Basic odd rhythm patterns in Serbian songs (Balkan songs tutorials)

WARNING! Since some of the viewers were offended by this video, I want to be clear that in no way I'm referring to Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, or Albanian etc. traditional music. All of the songs I'm referring to in this video are from Serbian and N. Macedonian (shoot me for this, also!) heritage. And these odd rhythms, as well as oriental melodic influences such as oriental minor scale, ARE influences that came to Serbian music with Ottoman occupation. Older Serbian traditional music is not characterized by odd rhythms and oriental scales. There are books and studies about this, published throughout the past 100 years, you may check them out. For example:
M. A. Vasiljević: Jugoslovenski muzički folklor
P. Konjović: Rukovedanje
Works by Roksanda Pejović and many others.
These are some of the basic odd rhythms present in Balkan (Serbian) traditional songs. I invite you to practice and learn them. And ask if you want to learn more about it. Check out my other Balkan songs tutorials: • Balkan songs tutorials...
If you like these videos, please subscribe to this channel, like it, recommend it and share it! And I want to personally thank you for taking the time to watch it and learn about Balkan music!

[@eeyorehaferbock7870]

Honestly, I really like how you made all these rhythms easier to understand by subdividing them into 2’s and 3’s. It’s interesting how, generally speaking, an odd time signature is essentially created by taking an even number of beats and then adding one extra beat to throw off the rhythm just a little.

[@musicavivaserbia]

You're absolutely correct!

[@SamChaneyProductions]

Not always a good way to think about it. For instance, 9/8 is most often felt as 3 sets of 3, so basically like 3/4 with triplet feel. Thinking about it as an even number of beats plus an extra one extra beat at the end would give you a completely different time feel

[@musicavivaserbia]

@@SamChaneyProductions of course! When 9/8 is divided in triplets, it is not an ‘odd’ pattern at all. It is uneven only when it’s divided in 3+2+2+2… or similarly.

[@eeyorehaferbock7870]

@@musicavivaserbiaif anything, wouldn’t an unevenly subdivided 9/8 usually be seen as 9/4? I know of a song by the American alternative/progressive metal band Mudvayne that does the latter by alternating between 5/4 and 4/4 bars.

[@musicavivaserbia]

@@eeyorehaferbock7870 Yes, 9/8 and 9/4 may sound very similar.

[@jokervienna6433]

Thank you for posting this! I grew up playing the drums, but as a westerner I learned 4/4 and those rythms. Some 35 years ago, my drum teacher presented me Balkan folk music in 13/8. I never got it but I also never stopped thinking about it. With your help, I can now see some patterns. Thank you again - I will not have to die not knowing this.

[@musicavivaserbia]

I am really glad this helped! In classical music schools here in Serbia, we learn those rhythms from the first day, as well as western rhythms. To me it seems so simple. I thought it is the same everywhere.

[@jokervienna6433]

@@musicavivaserbia it might be simple if you go to music school in Serbia. There are (for me) strange rythms from all over Balkan, to the middle east and then to India. I basically only had a few private teachers, most of what I know I simply played (or tried to). Your video helped me a lot, so thanks again!

[@SAZIZMUSIC]

Thank you very much ... i love Balkan music ... and i am from India 😃🇮🇳 .. yes you are right .. our traditional rhythm is very complex.

[@musicavivaserbia]

Thank you! Yes Indian rhythms are beyond my knowledge.

[@SAZIZMUSIC]

@@musicavivaserbia Ha ha even i don't understand much :) :)

[@enozmah6081]

@@musicavivaserbia I'm from the Balkans and I love indian music ☺

[@fuma4211]

thankyou! I am japanese and I have wanted to learn balkan rhythm.

[@musicavivaserbia]

I'm glad!

[@another-eli-1685]

This is the best and most clearly explained and calming video on rhythm I’ve ever seen, thanks for sharing!

[@musicavivaserbia]

Oh, thank you Eli! I am really glad it helped.

[@user-jn7tj3rs6c]

Thank you!

[@alyamoraya]

Thanks!!!

[@Vuavua91]

I appreciate the knowledge!!! 👋

[@jeffrogers210]

Thanks for sharing these cool time signatures and rhythms!

[@Davidbuzz79]

Thanks!! exactly what i need!!!! thanks a lot,nice explaining with much heart and talent!!!

[@musicavivaserbia]

I'm glad.

[@guillermoluque6463]

Graciaaas, desde españa. You are the best!!

[@godblessourdeadkotatsu8331]

This is beautiful, thank you!

[@musicavivaserbia]

I made it to be useful and simple as it is. Thank you. :)

[@Susanzakho]

You are the best teacher thank youuuuuuu very much for this beautiful video.

[@musicavivaserbia]

I'm glad it was useful for you!

[@scholezbeats]

love your videos, been struggling with these odd time signatures. Your videos really helped me out🙌🙌🙌

[@musicavivaserbia]

I'm really glad they helped you. Thank you for the comment.

[@robertb8673]

I want her to analyse lateralus by tool.😏 Dobra lekcia ,hvala za pomoć i pozdrav iz nemačke od jednog giratista srbskom poreklu. 👋

[@musicavivaserbia]

Hvala. That Lateralus thing is not for me. Too many notes. ;)

[@pablocruzdrums]

So useful, thanks... I have a doubt in a Bulgarian song called "pohvalila sei mariyka" by Kalinka Zgurova ... If you help me with this, I'll be grateful, if you don't have time, don't worry, your video was good!!! Thanks

[@musicavivaserbia]

Great question! I didn't know this beautiful Bulgarian song. What I hear when she starts singing is this pattern: 2 3 3 / 2 3 3 / 2 2 3 / 2 3 3 / 2 3 / 2 2 3 2 2. This is one sentence. Every sentence is in this same pattern. The end is a bit challenging because of the speed, but I think this is it. I will check it again.

[@pablocruzdrums]

@@musicavivaserbia thank you very much!! I also asked for a friend in BG, musician, and it's agree with your counting, just a little difference in the lasts... I can't send here the paper that I sent me, but I'll write as you did.

[@musicavivaserbia]

@@pablocruzdrums Yes, please do send it. I wasn't sure about the end.

[@buddyholly9538]

Not as complex as Indian rhytms yeah happy happy ;-) loved your video as it all looks very obvious haha but it will take me hours and hours to get one right ;-)

[@musicavivaserbia]

Thank you for your comment. Practice as much as you need, and it will come naturally. I also practiced a lot many years ago, and now it's the simplest thing. Try with some song first and then go with rhythm alone. Ajde Jano, or Što mi e milo, in 7/8. I also have tutorials for these. :)

[@marcogerosa3044]

what's the title of the first song you sing for 7/8? thank you

[@musicavivaserbia]

It is Ajde, Jano, a Serbian song. I have a tutorial in English for that one. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hofNf4WnpMeIjas

[@Geva555]

The 7/8 balkan (123 12 12) has a name?

[@musicavivaserbia]

Hello, as far as I know, I've never heard of a name for 7/8.

[@danielborimirov9418]

This is the Bulgarian "Ruchenitza" (originally spelled in Bulgarian: "Ръченица").

[@arbengjocaj8363]

No they did not come with ottoman empire they found these rithms here in balcans

[@musicavivaserbia]

It may be as you say. I was referring to Slavic tradition, where these rhythms blossomed after Ottoman empire.

[@RositsaPetrovarjp7]

​@musicavivaserbia B.s. they didn't flourish. We barely survived the Ottomans. Islam dislikes music. Get hoir facts straight. This is our music. Nothing to do with the Ottomans. This us why they brought the GyosybRoma from Asua so that someone can play their Ottoman music

[@musicavivaserbia]

@@RositsaPetrovarjp7 Since some of the viewers were offended by this video, I want to be clear that in no way I'm referring to Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, or Albanian etc. traditional music. All of the songs I'm referring to in this video are from Serbian and N. Macedonian (shoot me for this, also!) heritage. And these odd rhythms, as well as oriental melodic influences such as oriental minor scale, ARE influences that came to Serbia with Ottoman occupation. Older Serbian traditional music is not characterized by odd rhythms and oriental scales. There are books and studies about this, published throughout the past 100 years, you may check them out.

[@boskonikolov7955]

Macedonian 7/8

[@skladzasnimki6th818]

North Macedonian? Greeks (incl. Macedonians) do not use these rythms.

[@danielborimirov9418]

Не само в македонската фолклорна област има 7/8 - в цяла България има неравноделни ритми. 😃

[@delmisoo]

At 2:45 you talk about "Macedonia", even though you are referring to "The Republic of North Macedonia". There is no Macedonia outside of Greece since the "Prespa Accord" of 2018, following 27 years of organized deceit, misinformation, propaganda, and false claims of Slavs trying to rewrite World History to their advantage, and insighting terrorism in an already incredibly volatile part of the world. In your bio you claim to be an "educator and tutor. I use and combine my knowlwdge and experience as a musician, teacher and culturologist", which, if correct, means that you are promoting a very dangerous national agenda. You must be defining CULTUROLOGY in an incredibly narrow segment. Hopefully, you are not what you claim, but simply ignorant. Please, correct the misinformation in this video, do your research BEFORE posting, and stick to the truth and what you know, music.

[@musicavivaserbia]

Omg! I'm sure you always use these titles: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as The United States of America in everyday speech, unrelated to politics.

[@delmisoo]

@@musicavivaserbia Sure, who doesn't? "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", as well as "The United States of America", are actual, real places, they are formally recognized countries, just like the "Republic of North Macedonia", that we, in all of the remaining countries of the world, have collectively agreed to recognize as such. What you call "Macedonia" simply is not a country that exists in this Universe, and regrettably, that fact, that you have chosen to ignore even after it was brought to your attention, and you continue to insist on spreading hateful misinformation, precisely proves my point and the need to raise our hand and offer to open your eyes to the truth, before you cause any more damage than you already have. After all, if you do not aspire to be educated, why would you dare to educate others, and all, while you dress yourself in those fake titles that YOU gave yourself? Invest in yourself and earn some titles, like the rest of us have. One can only hope that you are an exception to this detrimental, faulty mentality, I for one, have faith that you too, like the names of countries, can change and make an effort to keep up with the times. Please, feel free to join the rest of us (you are welcome here with us in this Universe), after you finally educate yourself, hopefully, before you continue pretending to educate others. GOOGLE owns KZbin, and they'll be happy to set you straight; here's a little more help from me, to get you started, there is tons more out there: history.state.gov/countries/macedonia#:~:text=Macedonia%20and%20Greece%20signed%20the,the%20Republic%20of%20North%20Macedonia.

[@olja5859]

😂