7 Popular Songs That Use Odd Time Signatures!

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

Do you know any pop/rock songs that have cool odd-time signatures thrown in there? Looking for stuff you would hear on the radio every day.

[@benzell4]

Nice analysis and demos! Just saw PG last night (9/25) in Columbus, OH, and, of course, he played Solsbury Hill. Tried to explain this to my friend after, Will def be alerting him to your vid! Thanks!🤟🏾🎶

[@TeslaNick2]

"Heart of Glass" - Blondie is all I could come up with. The bridge starts in 7.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

Ha! That's actually a really good one

[@johndiraimo1444]

As always Jay, great video. There are some Toto tunes that have odd measures within sections. An example is Africa where there is a measure of 2 in each of the Verses ... it's seamless, also the Toto tune "Jake to the bone" begins in 4/4 but then goes to 7/8 in the blowing section. Also for Motown music 3/4 or 6/8 is common ... an example of 3/4 is Aretha Franklin's "You make me feel". Great video Jay.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

Thanks, John... Yeah, Toto has some cool phrasing. There are actually tons of Beatles songs that have odd measures and tempo changes. It was hard to pick.

[@mikebeaston4970]

Spoonman by Soundgarden, Tom Sawyer by RUSH.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

I knew Tom Sawyer was gonna come up. I only avoided Rush because odd times are so common in their stuff but Tom Sawyer is indeed a popular tune and heard on the radio daily. Spoonman as well as Outshined... great cal, Mike. Matt Cameron is one of my favorites.

[@TheMilford]

Heart of Glass has a cool 7 part IIRC.

[@TeslaNick2]

My fave prog drummers are those that can make odd time smooth and musical. Gavin Harrison or Steve Judd would be great examples.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

Tesla Nick Me too, my friend. When ever I teach Odd Meter playing, I reference Vinnie’s playing on Sting’s Ten Summoners Tales. He makes the Odd Time feel smooth and natural.

[@TeslaNick2]

@@Thedrummersalmanac That groove on "Love is stronger than justice" is one of my faves.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

@@TeslaNick2 Yup... hoedown in 7! I also love Seven Days and St. Augustine in Hell.

[@ARDrummer]

Very nicely done video! Very interesting

[@benzell4]

P. S.- And many people say, ‘Ringo wasn’t a GREAT drummer’...!?!

[@johnnyfx82]

Say a ittle prayer (Aretha Franklin), Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash), Golden Brown (The Stranglers) :)

[@alhuber144]

Incredible!!!

[@TheMilford]

Does Paranoid Android count as popular?

[@-robdphd-9741]

Phenomenal video!

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

Thank you so much!

[@mikebeaston4970]

What about Toto’s Africa? Are there sections in 6? Although technically not “odd” time. I call it “odd” feel.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

Yeah... Africa counts... Although I would say it's more for the intro, which feels like a measure of 3/4 and a measure of 5/4... 5 + 3 Gives you 8, but subjectively you could feel it like that 'cause of how they accent the beats.

[@streetsmartdrumming9567]

its "even time"

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Well, it isn't exactly pop, but I find Cream's "Politician" to be in ?/4 time. Seriously, try to pin it down, it is almost impossible.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

I'm gonna check that out right now.

[@Thedrummersalmanac]

I'm hearing 4/4... lol

[@robertwilloughby8050]

@@Thedrummersalmanac Yes, you're right, but it also sounds like it's slipping all over the place. I don't quite know how they got that effect.