| StoreTags: music theory, time signatures
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Is it just me or did there used to be a forum here for music theory topics?
Maybe not...
Anyway, I've realised that I only ever write in 4/4 or 3/4 time and I want to experiment with writing in different time sigs.
So, to gain a better understanding of time signatures and how they work I've decided that the best thing to do is to listen to songs which are in unusual time sigs. So, I want to know can people recommend some songs to me that I can listen to?
A couple of things though:
- If you could tell me what signature the song is in, that would be awesome.
- They have to be all in the one time, otherwise I'll never get my head around it.
- They have to be fairly common, so I can hear it online pretty easily.
If people have any other practical tips for getting to grips with uncommon time sigs let me know.  | |
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07/29/06
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ricemutt
well, I know that dave brubeck's "take five" and pink floyd's money are both in wierd time signatures... take five in 5/4 and money in 7/8.
07/29/06
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daswesen
and venetian snares is often in 7/4. for far out stuff listen to fusion jazz or stuff, for example this incredible nguyen le hendrix album where all the hendrix songs are moved to weirdo time signatures such as 15/16.
07/29/06
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Fredo
I'm really put off by a weird time signature, unless it works really really well, like Take Five... I recently went to a show with a friend of mine who is a great drummer, and every piece was in insane time signatures and I just found it so distracting and complicated (as opposed to complex).
Anyway, sorry, that wasn't an answer to your question.
What are some really great natural examples of music in strange time signatures?
I guess modern classical is often in really unusual time signatures, hell, the time is constantly changing because the form is so creative, and these folks definitely have it down because the listener never even notices!
07/29/06
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tmns
Fridge - 5/4 child voice , this is my favourite song in 5/4, also a nice simple example of it's usage.
07/29/06
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daswesen
the stuff by bela fleck and the flecktones is often weird time signatures, but it flows really well.
07/29/06
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race4prize
money by pink floyd actually starts in 7/8 and changed to 4/4 for the chorus. one of few songs that actually change time signature
07/29/06
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race4prize
oh, and golden brown by the stranglers, i think its 13/8 or something equally bizarre
edited: Jul 29 2006
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Zanf
"Golden Brown" is a waltzing, harpsichord-led ballad in a 6/8 and 7/8 time signature from The Stranglers. (The instrumental bridges add an extra beat in every other measure, effectively producing a 13/8 time signature) link
Ive done some stuff with weird time sigs. I have posted some short clips.:
I have a old one called 'foetal instinct' is 3 bars of 6/8 then one of 4/4. [Or 3 of 4/4 then 1 of 6/8 - cant remember but it was because I got my mates Emu SP1200 to freak out]
I have a version of sidechattering which has 4/4 drums but on a 7/4 time sig [the melody is in 7/4]
I have one that is on a bizarre time scale called Equipoise which is 16 16ths in one bar and 15 in the second. No idea how that works out but it seems ot be a count of 30 before it repeats. Or is it 31?
07/29/06
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lunatinker
race4prize.... one of my all time fave-songs. didn't know it was in the weird-time-sig family ... nice!
edited: Jul 29 2006
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tmns
i don't remember which album, but there's a zappa track where he starts introducing the band whilst they play, he tells you which time signature each person is playing and they are all different. it might be 'weasels ripped my flesh'
07/29/06
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energygiant
fridge is ACE!
07/29/06
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jdg
i like the feel of 6/8 when played right.
it just feels like a long set of triplets.
07/29/06
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bleen
jdg said: "i like the feel of 6/8 when played right.
it just feels like a long set of triplets."
that's what you're getting in the new drum tracks from me.
07/29/06
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jdg
fucking DOPEO
ticka ticka boom, ticka ticka ticka ticka boom ticka.
07/29/06
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11t1
Zanf said: ""Golden Brown" is a waltzing, harpsichord-led ballad in a 6/8 and 7/8 time signature from The Stranglers. (The instrumental bridges add an extra beat in every other measure, effectively producing a 13/8 time signature) link"
thx, i couldn't remember who did that track for the life of me - must go d/l now
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