counting 12/8

[just_me]

What is a good way to count a moderate-quick 12/8 tempo? The 2 syllables in "seven" and "eleven" mess me UP! Any other counting tips you've learned the hard way would also be ~greatly~ appreciated.
signed, candidate for the rhythm special olympics...

[jlh]

Just think of it as 4/4 time with each beat counted as a TRIPLET (each beat is divided into 3 equal parts).

So you count 1 n a, 2 n a, 3 n a, 4 n a. 

If you use a metronome, each "tick" of the metronome will fall on the numbers.

[allchopin]

Yes, as jlh said the 12/8 time signature is compund time, meaning it has beats (in this case, 4) that are broken into 3 parts each.  This typically gives a piece a more flowing, moving, or dance-like feel.
The proper way to count this is 1 ta te 2 ta te 3 ta te 4 ta te (some use lah lee).

[BoliverAllmon]

Yes, as jlh said the 12/8 time signature is compund time, meaning it has beats (in this case, 4) that are broken into 3 parts each.  This typically gives a piece a more flowing, moving, or dance-like feel.
The proper way to count this is 1 ta te 2 ta te 3 ta te 4 ta te (some use lah lee).

use the lah lee system for triplet type meter and ta te for duple. Trust me on this one. I use to use the "one and two and" system and when I got to a university I was screwed because we used the te system. My teacher says that most universities will use the te system and in fact pianists are really the only people that use the and system.