Understanding and Using Odd Time Signatures - 6 Examples [MUSIC THEORY / RHYTHM]

The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! shorturl.at/bouLV
My pro theory + songwriting course bit.ly/2J2Nctn
Enroll in my Rhythm Training Course at ANY price! bit.ly/3wDacU4
This video explains the basics of odd time signatures while also giving tips on writing them, and demonstrating various odd meters from different recordings.
Thank you to the many awesome people that help sponsor these lessons on my Patreon! Join them here: bit.ly/2zFwzOO
/ signals_music
/ signalsmusicstudio
www.signalsmusicstudio.com
Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:36 What Are Time Signatures?
02:30 5/4 Mission Impossible
03:41 Quarter Note Odd Time Signatures
05:21 7/4 "Money" Pink Floyd
05:30 Eighth Note Odd Time Signatures
06:31 9/8 "Scatterbrain" Jeff Beck
07:22 7/8 "Here Comes The Sun" The Beatles
07:42 7/8 "Classical Gas" Mason Williams
07:55 Sixteenth Note Odd Time Signatures
08:45 15/16 "Home" Dream Theater
08:55 Wrapping Up

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

This is my 100th video and my very first COPYRIGHT STRIKE! Universal Music Group UK decided that 20 seconds of me talking loudly over the beatles was taking away from their ability to put food on their plate so they put a WORLDWIDE BAN on this video. I am reuploading it now without the audio. When you're done watching this, check out Adam Neely's video on why Universal Music Group SUCKS kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKPcd6CLn9mqe7s

[@seiph80]

Signals Music Studio I hear you, man, very frustrating. And check this one out too from Rick Beato: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6C3nWyMbcidfpI

[@n7565j]

If a teacher can't use examples, HOW CAN HE TEACH??? A math teacher would have a devil of a time trying to get concepts across to their students... Excellent video all the same, even though you were way over my head :-)

[@KimonFrousios]

Surely YT has an appeal procedure? That's ridiculous.

[@HectorGarciadeMarina]

That is disgusting. No comments.

[@FaMinore]

"Ban, ban, ban, here it comes..."

[@melodyhough3980]

*Dance of Eternity:* "Hold my 27/36"

[@sushi_tech35]

Entertain me (256/16): has entered the chat.

[@rasputinsbeard3899]

"I was going to buy a copy of 'Abbey Road', but decided against it, because after hearing a 20 second clip of one of the tracks on youtube, with someone talking over the top of it, I think I've pretty much heard the entire album." - No One (ever)

[@chriswilliams1096]

I was going to buy several remastered Beatles albums - but now don't want a penny of my cash ending up with a bunch of dicks (UMG) who would ban a video like this.

[@humanseekingtruth6080]

Listening to the Beatles catalog is one of best things a musician can do in their life. They are completely ingeniously brilliant! But A LOT of of this new generation doesn’t like the Beatles or music from the 50s-80s and I’m really amazed at the lack of recognition and interest. That also explains why music is the way it is today along with the Music Business manufacturing the same songs rolled into a new artist.

[@humanseekingtruth6080]

@Chris Williams • a lot of people were wronged by the music business or agents to the point where the Beatles are very protective of their music for a good reason and it is understandable. Ignorance plays into the reason why people don’t experience good things in life.

[@theothertonydutch]

What you are actually saying is that so many people don't know their influences. Mine are definitely the Beatles, Zappa, Bowie, but also more recent stuff that remind me you don't need much to break the chain like Arcade Fire, Superorganism and the Gorillaz. Moulds break. The collectors items exist because they do.

[@humanseekingtruth6080]

@Ja Kooistra • well yeah they seem to mention Queen or Bowie at times but I wonder if that has politics behind it. Sometimes people haven’t heard of bands from that time, but I talk to the younger generations about music and they will actually say things I don’t like Elvis, or The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Boston, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, etc etc and no one even mentions Grand Funk Railroad. Even Christian music was way better with Talbot Brothers, Keith Green, Phil Keaggy, Kerry Livgren & Ronni Jame Dio, 2nd Chapter of Acts with A band Called David, and others. But music today is far far from the music of the resent past and it’s sad how the language and art of music has been dying in the 21st Century. We need a total revival to music and musicians from classical to the classic bands to the modern music.

[@rickard7031]

"But there is really nothing to be scared of" *Dance of Eternity has entered the chat*

[@volderhamer]

When someone can play that song on any instrument, they can really call themselves good at that instrument.

[@ayusharipirala3121]

@@volderhamer James LaBrie can sing DoE really well so he's a good vocalist

[@chrystalwayland3860]

What About Confusion Girl Soflan-Chan Full Version (150+ Time Signature Changes)

[@TheKut0klan]

Pop: 4/4 Progressive Rock: *YES*

[@aristotle5698]

Heh...

[@dbwastooshort]

literally

[@itsmedante.5325]

Yes/4

[@Alberto-ny7kf]

$/8

[@Yes-ev3sr]

Math rock: hold my beer

[@kfc_pog]

"but there's really nothing to be scared of" *Dance of Eternity*

[@KonnerJohnson]

"Schism" by Tool is full of different odd time signatures, including 7/4, 5/8, 9/8, 11/8, 13/8 and 15/8.

[@eattherex2571]

*laugh in the dance of eternity

[@florencewinchester7852]

Lateralus too.

[@Drefyxd]

@@eattherex2571 lmao

[@davetourle4250]

Damn, you beat me to it. Tool are mathematical geniuses, who also are great musicians.

[@lambsauce9404]

That is pretty much nothing compared to dream theater

[@jan_kisan]

man, you're the best music theory presenter i've heard so far

[@beruanglaut3955]

check out zombieguitar tutorial, i think those channel is easier to understand

[@stevestizzy]

Shocked that no one else is fascinated with your ability to play on time while talking and thinking :P Wow.... just wow !! Great job by the way :)

[@imannonymous7707]

Good observation i cant do that

[@wickandvessel6346]

Yup. I'm impressed! I didn't say anything cause I'm jealous lol!!!

[@osareafallire]

Yeah, I kind of threw up in my mouth at how straight sick that was when I realized what he was doing.

[@dhr.neuteboom4536]

It's the same as you can drive the car and have a conversation. He is doing it every day, it's normal to have the ability.

[@farque7179]

LOL, you serious?

[@baylinkdashyt]

Hey... uh... Universal Music Group? I have never *in the history of KZbin* seen a video that was more clearly qualified for fair use exemption under Section 107. Never. Ever. Bugger off.

[@heavyreynald]

Exception being "educational purposes", am I right?

[@baylinkdashyt]

heavyreynald well, there is a four-prong test that is commonly applied for fair use, and if you've got two of them pretty clearly that's generally enough. I am not a copyright attorney - and if following my opinion breaks anything you get to keep both pieces - but this is exactly what it's for, yes, educational use. I think a defensible case can also be made that it's not commercial - even if he's getting per click money from KZbin for it.

[@brianhelmuth9414]

Fair use can only be established as the modus operandi in a court of law, not willy nilly. Hate the KZbinrs lack of legal knowledge on this matter.

[@heavyreynald]

So I have to go to court every time I want to make a KZbin vid. I can understand the law but it's pointless and I cant agree with that .

[@brianhelmuth9414]

@@heavyreynald Not what I said. If the creator of the content sues you for copyright, then a judge has the ability to dismiss the case due to fair use doctrine. It can only be administered within a court. Fair use is not a right, it is a legal ruling.

[@BoughtByTheBlood]

Really like that you use "real life" examples of each time signature so we can tell what each one sounds like & how it feels.

[@DROSTraceurADD]

It blew my mind when I found out that Gorillaz's "5/4" was in 5/4😱🤣

[@personperson6399]

It blew my mind when I found out that Gorillaz was not a real band and I've been living in loneliness hoping to meet them my whole life to find out I've wasted it on a bunch of drawings and now I have no food because I spent all my money on Gorillaz merch 😱🤣

[@PabloSaavedra84]

Actually... Mission Imposible riff is "- - . ." wich in Morse is "MI"

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

holy shit! I didn't know that, that's pretty incredible! I thought YYZ was the first popular instance of morse used as music.

[@Tmanaz480]

I wonder if Lalo knew that.

[@forentertainment3259]

Holy what the fuck

[@AxxLundOlga]

I would say that Beethoven was first when he wrote his famous 5th symphony 18-hundred something. Five in roman numbers are V and V in morse are 3 short and 1 long.

[@PabloSaavedra84]

Actually, the letter V was "morsed" to ...- because of the V Symphony

[@viridianloom]

I definitely think an important aspect about learning to write in odd time signatures is that you feel less limited in your compositions by thinking outside the 4/4 box. However, as someone who loves and writes prog rock, you can end up going a little too far and forget how to write normal 4/4 music that people will probably appreciate more. So achieve balance ;)

[@ze-ce.cra_]

This is one of the wisest music compositional advice

[@NicholasKrise]

So this is my first time to your Channel. My initial reaction? DUDE, YOU'RE A FREAKING Godsend. With all of the bullshit that is on KZbin, to find somebody who is knowledgeable, well spoken, and disseminates information accurately and in a method that others who may not be as well versed as you are I can understand is the exception more so than the rule. ThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYou I have a lot of friends that want my knowledge of music. To hell with it. I'm shipping them to you. You do a hell of a lot better job than I do. Signed, subscriber and at the moment your biggest advocate.

[@Tmanaz480]

Sometimes it's best to compose your line and groove first, then go back and figure out the time signature after the fact. In pop/rock/metal there's less of a need to actually put it into notation. Just a need to teach your bandmates how to play the passage without getting lost

[@babytiny5807]

Fucking awesome comment, noted.

[@dlxinfinite7098]

Wise advice. Depending on your audience, odd / mixed meter stuff can throw your audience off. And most musicians can't count.

[@waterglas21]

6:07 9/8 Is pretty common in classical western music. But the pulse is subdivided in 3.

[@jstdun]

Have an example?

[@waterglas21]

@@jstdunClaire de lune by debussy kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKCnkHSugNR9etU

[@quasarsphere]

@@jstdun It's slip jig time, so literally any Irish slip jig. A regular jig is 6/8.

[@heraldjenkinsvii2176]

Ride of the Valkyries

[@nikiw1856]

"AUDIO REMOVED THANKS UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP" , with staff notation provided I think the info is served.

[@javierdeljeur]

9/8: Debussy “Clair de lune”, Genesis “Apocalypse in 9/8”.

[@quartztrigger]

Also genesis cinema show in 7/8

[@comeacross9]

I'm an old guy and remember well the 1959 album "Time Out" by jazz great Dave Brubeck. "Take Five" was the most memorable song on the album written in 5/4. "Blue Rondo a'la Turk" another great song in the album was written in 9/8. In any event "Time Out" was pretty hip in 1959 and caused a lot of discussion among jazz players and fans. As an aside while not an odd time I love they way Lennon and McCartney inserted four 3/4 measures in "We Can Work it Out." For me it made a straight forward song interesting. Thanks for posting this and keep on keeping on.

[@jayweh]

I'm not old and I love that album! it blows my mind how the musicians manage these beats. "three to get ready" jumps between 3/4 and 4/4, and even crazier: in "kathy's waltz" dave plays a 4/4 melody on piano with a 3/4 drum backdrop! unbelievable.

[@anrylstudios]

Ant-Man uses 7/4

[@scottblackburn7192]

Blue rando a’la turk is interested because brubeck uses and alternative grouping of 9/8, 12 34 56 789, for three bars before going back to the standard 123 456 678

[@SengokuTheGouda]

This is legitimately one of the best videos on time signatures I've ever seen. Fantastic job!

[@danvol3835]

Sir, you are an excellent teacher--making everything seem like something I knew all along. Bravo! and keep up the good work. BTW, an arguably more famous piece in 7/4 might be "All You Need Is Love." To all who say the Beatles knew nothing about music because they couldn't articulate theory--Birds know nothing about flying because they don't understand aerodynamics.

[@justincase9284]

Thanks. Ive always wondered if i would have been a better musician if i had learned theory. Sometimes felt inferior for it.

[@AlefSousa017]

7:22 Oh, now I understand why the repost. I had this video on my "watch later" list and suddenly I seen it again on the top of my subscription box. Universal Music Group is just so, uuugh.. Hope they don't copystrike my comment for writing their company name on it, hahaha. Anyway, great video as always, Jake! The removed audio clip didn't affect the overall meaning and understanding of the video, which was flawless as always!

[@GogiRegion]

The moment you said swing for 7/4, before you even started playing, I instantly knew you were about to play Money (unlike with Mission Impossible where I didn’t recognize it until you started playing.

[@Luaporleafcutterant]

I knew he was talking about money before watching the video.

[@spamsingles5948]

@@Luaporleafcutterant same

[@pRahvi0]

5/4 is much more common (at least in the Western World). That might be why it doesn't instantly remind us of some specific piece (at least not as easily).

[@foxeh123]

Came to say this.

[@caio509]

Dream Theater's Panic Attack first verse is in 5/8

[@sunavila]

Not only did this educate me on odd time signautres, but it also helped me better understand time signatures in general. Thanks Jake you consistently upload high quality content, I truly appreciate that.

[@zaz4667]

After watching a few of his teaching videos, this guy is the real deal when it comes to music and teaching. Real detailed, clear and knowledgeable in the medium and advanced areas.

[@GP-yc2it]

Odd time sigs are a mainstay of art rock. Rush, Yes, King Crimson, Porcupine Tree, Tool, etc, all thrive in them.

[@marklydston90]

The fact that he didn't mention Genisis, Suppers Ready, for 9/8 or that he didn't mention Zappa, saddens me. Although he came across very intelligently, and spoke as such.

[@dlxinfinite7098]

Zappa, indeed. Also Gentle Giant, Henry Cow, Univers Zero, Yugen,

[@yudasgoat2000]

Jethro Tull, too-LIving In The Past is 5/4.

[@philspill6854]

Soundgarden

[@666misanthropic]

Meshuggah

[@JoshuaConnorMusic]

You'd be surprised just how common 9/8 is in world music, celtic music in particular. It's basically just 3/4 triplets, in the same way that 12/8 is 4/4 triplets. Lots of jigs in 9/8.

[@JoshuaConnorMusic]

@@RalphAouad well in the case of jigs it's simple, since it's just triplet 3/4, but this channel has always had a progressive rock sensibility, and not a Celtic one, so it's unfair to say 9/8 is simple and the way he's teaching here is poor. 9/8, when played straight, can be a very unusual time signature, since it's note groupings can be uneven, like 2+2+2+3, or some variation on that. It's not as unusual as say 7/8, which will always be uneven, but it's still a far cry from 4/4 or 6/8. 9/8 isn't always grouped in 3 lots of 3, and when it's not it can be quite complex.

[@gattigatozza]

Is middle instrumental part of Alexander the Great by Iron Maiden in 9/8?

[@johnpointon4462]

And in jazz, famously, Blue Rondo a la Turk by Brubeck.... Not to forget: Take Five and Castilian Drums (5/4) and Unsquare Dance (7/4) - happy days!

[@JohnBrooking4]

Yes, 9 can be divided in different ways. They’re all 9. One way I like to think about odd meter is to break it into indivisible sequences of 2s and 3s. So each measure of a 9/8 jig would be just 123 123 123, but 4 measures of Blue Rondo would be 12 12 12 123 | 12 12 12 123 | 12 12 12 123 | 123 123 123. Or if you don’t like numbers, just say “short” and “long” instead, elongating the word “long”.

[@Kapir00to]

John Brooking riding the scree - genesis is the best example of 9/8

[@Icemann265]

This video was awesome! Thank you so much never understood time signatures and no class I’ve taken ever broke it down as plainly as you just did.

[@ilyagitelman1575]

You are a fantastic teacher. I‘be always struggled a bit with time signatures and this has been the best video lesson I’ve ever seen. Great work!

[@jpatt194]

When you talked about how odd time signatures can make 4/4 parts more awesome I immediately thought of "there must be the third and last dance" in Metropolis.

[@caio509]

" This one will last forever" ...

[@han36solo]

Great lesson. Ridiculous strike. How the heck are we supposed to teach music without referencing... music?

[@jmitterii2]

This is the absurdity of copyright. Pointless and should be abolished. If musicians want to make music, go perform it. And others will buy music still if they like your junk.

[@FriedrichHerschel]

Showing music sheets is also "violating" copyrights.

[@ericnyman6681]

FriedrichHerschel could be fair use if the video is not monetized and not for profit.

[@ModernGolfer]

Wait'll they start telling us we can't use instruments for playing music without paying them $.05 for each note being played. You know, "Because all the notes in the scale are in that instrument". The dumbasses... SMH. 🙄

[@brianhelmuth9414]

Fair use can only be established as the modus operandi in a court of law, not willy nilly. Hate the KZbinrs lack of legal knowledge on this matter.

[@Danomite1]

I normally don't comment very often, but I felt compelled to because this video had a large amount of useful information that was condensed and easy to absorb. Not only was it explained well (especially with the song examples given), it wasn't unnecessarily drawn out. Good stuff! I'm subscribing for sure!

[@LEROBOToo3]

My freind, you know your thing, you speak and teach right to the point. And most of all, you're simply real. Thanks, for knowing who you are and being confident about it all. That is what teaching should sound like. Congrats!

[@NIIVES]

Great video! I love odd time signatures as well, and the coolest songwriting-challenge with it is to make it sound so that most non-musical listeners barely notice it's not 4/4. That way you have best of both worlds: the power and feel of something familiar but the creativity and groove of something odd.

[@deadstar44]

Soundgarden got a lot of songs featuring odd meters from Spoonman (7/4) to Never The Machine Forever (9/8), some songs like Head Down I don't even know what the time signature actually is in some places because there are like 3 drum tracks superposed on top of each others producing polyrythms.

[@maxmoseley6330]

I love Head Down that song screws with my mind

[@GregglyPuff]

I was about to comment that this whole video could feature nothing but Soundgarden tunes.

[@jjsmith706]

Outshined, of course.

[@sleeping.helper]

I came here waiting for some soundgarden's tunes...

[@johnjames9121]

Best fucking band ever!

[@mustardtitsthemurdermaster3486]

Some other songs that are in: 5/4: Stream of consciousness by Dream Theater 7/4: The Seven by Primus (can also be counted as 7/8) 9/8: Jambi by Tool (verse sections) 19/16: I don't honestly know a lot of songs in odd 16th note time signature

[@faiqlatif3122]

19/16: Celestial Terrestrial Commuters by Mahavishnu Orchestra

[@thegunganaficionado]

The intro in Pale blue dot by dream theater is in 19/16

[@lapdogg]

I could listen to this man read me stereo instructions for hours and all my anxiety will just wash away. Came here for the time signature video & stayed for the hypnotic voice. 🙂🙃🙂

[@tr83ey23]

Absolutely loved this video! Music with odd time signatures has always interested me more than anything. A quick note so as not to confuse people, though, 9/8 can be used as an odd time signature (another great example is Dave Brubeck's Blue Rondo a la Turk) but it is far more common to see 9/8 used in compound triple meter. Many pieces have been written with this as the basis and it is fairly regular. Just something to consider. 😊

[@wisenotwithered5018]

I love this video (really love a lot of your videos!!) and I just wanted to say thank you for the mention at the end of music from other parts of the world. As a music teacher myself, I think it’s so important to keep in mind that most of the music we study and musical rules we talk about are very Western-centric, and acknowledgement of other cultures is essential! 👏🏼🎶👍🏼

[@liamhalvorsen460]

wow this really helped me! I listen to lots of odd time signature music and never fully knew what people were talking about. I've watched other videos to try to figure it out but you put it so simply THANKS!

[@idahagglund524]

I gotta say I love your channel. Recently discovered it and you explain everything so well. I've played instruments all my life; selftaught mostly, so never really got taught music theory. When it comes to rhythm I've always done it instinctually. These videos really help me understand the... well "science" behind it all.

[@DTBCProdigy]

This whole video I was like "I wonder if he'll use Dream Theater as an example?" and I then I was pleasantly satisfied at 8:36.

[@itsmedante.5325]

Okay.

[@ArcherWillows]

I thought he was gonna use Dance of Eternity as an example and try to explain whatever the hell that mess of time signature is but I think he realized no one can play that except the original musicians

[@DickEnchilada]

Honestly, I'm pretty well-versed with music theory, but I've been binging your videos because your instruction skills are top notch

[@pallavgupta1148]

This is by far the best video on odd time signatures. Subscribed right away!!

[@crescendo5594]

I really like the way you think, man. Odd time signatures are perfect ways to create contrast and you get the same resolved feeling you do when you play a note a half step high and then resolve it.

[@FourthSeatStudios]

Symphony X is a band that I love largely because they love to experiment with time signatures. Paradise Lost's 6-6-6-7 is a good example.

[@vance8832]

Tool is a great example of a band that uses odd meters very often in their songs. For example, in "Lateralus", the main riff goes from 9/8 to 8/8 to 7/8 all in a row. Its tricky to count but sounds really cool when it's done right.

[@quitsdrop6995]

This channel is truly a goldmine. Despite me not playing guitar, every single thing stated in this video applies to me and my instruments perfectly (obviously), but nonetheless, it is very easy to understand and comprehend.

[@Karenmarquesf]

Thank-you-so-much. The first minute's already helped me A LOT!

[@jaytiman1330]

My favorite example in 9/8 is Voices by Dream Theater. That intro is exactly what Jake described : a 4/4 bar plus an extra eight note at the end. I recommend you guys to check out that particular song. Simply amazing how Petrucci and Portnoy turned that odd time more musical

[@TheNiceJackass]

One of my fav songs with an odd time sig is Pat Metheny's masterpiece called First Circle. A crazy 22/8 time

[@mckennatravels]

Hot tip!!! On Spotify I just discovered if you search a time signature, you’ll find someone’s made a playlist of songs that fit that signature. Super helpful. So far I’ve listened to 5/4, 4/4, and 3/4 playlists to try and get more familiar with this. It’s helping a lot

[@Radien]

Clicked on this suggested video on a whim, and now, I haven't been this intellectually stimulated by music theory for years. Enjoyed this video very much; happily subscribing now!

[@santiagolegarda4702]

Thanks, you're very awesome

[@tonygnerre3187]

Guys if this is interesting, check out Bicycle Race by Queen. After all the bicycle bells in the middle, it uses two measures of 13/8, which is very strange, and then a measure of 1/4(I believe) before returning to 4/4. Also at the end of Livin on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, there is a missing beat as it seems, a measure of 3/4 when it transitions into the last chorus. Not only that, but the key modulates at the same time!

[@TheSharkAnt]

I'm not really if 1/4 is even a real time signature.

[@tonygnerre3187]

TheSharkAnt Gaming & More, I’m sorry I just listened to it in slo mo and listened to all the beats. It goes from 13/8 to 6/8 to 4/4. Check it out it’s wild

[@ros8737]

Realized I’d seen this before but still continued to the end. The ease of counting is impressive, so is the clear as a bell delivery of all that info in such a short video. *hits subscribe button*

[@TheFullbend]

GOLD ! This is just too good! You are the man Jake !

[@michaelcottle6270]

Genesis - "Turn it on again" top ten single in 13/8. Enjoy

[@orderinchaos]

Also Stranglers "Golden Brown" which alternates between 13/8 and 6/8.

[@NominalTopic]

Burt Baccarat’s “I Say A Little Prayer”..😁

[@lambda494]

Universal Music Group would put a copyright on 4/4 if they cool. Awesome video. I see that Korg Minilogue back there too!

[@finnp.7170]

I know absolutely nothing about music theory and all I can say is that you’re a very very great teacher, thanks for making these videos and please don’t stop making them

[@BiRDiEHere]

This video saved me and I can now easily write music in 9/8, 7/16, 13/16 and 15/16.

[@MickPosch]

Apocalypse in 9/8 (part of the "Supper's Ready" suite) is a nice example of that time signature from early Genesis. Another interesting tune of theirs is Cinema Show...it's in 7/8, but, unlike Money, we're talking a really, really FAST 7/8...as a drummer, I have yet to play that song and end a fill without getting screwed up!

[@TerryT304]

With Tony Banks playing 4/4 to Phil Collin's 9/8, great stuff.

[@mal2ksc]

_Money_ is in 7/4, as is Peter Gabriel's _Solsbury Hill,_ but that is really just a matter of convention and notation. Another fast 7/8 that really grooves is Dave Matthews Band _The Dreaming Tree._ King Crimson's _Three of a Perfect Pair_ has a section in 6/8 alternating with a section in 7/8 (in clipped 4/4 format).

[@JohnBrooking4]

I was also going to mention Cinema Show. Incredible synth solo, all in 7! And very clever how they transition back into 4/4 at the end. They start playing a riff in 7, repeated a bunch of times, then they play the same sequence of notes in 4, and it’s such a subtle rhythmic shift that I totally missed it the first bunch of times I heard the song. Suddenly they were back in 4 and I hadn’t noticed when it happened.

[@rayres1074]

I learnt so much about odd time signatures through Apocalypse in 9/8...

[@santibanks]

As far as popular songs are concerned, Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill is a hit all in 7/8 (I believe Money actually switches time signatures around during the solo?). Genesis wrote Turn it on again (also a hit) in 13/8. Tubular Bells has some kind of odd signature going on as well. As the 9/8 is concerned, I guess picking Supper's Ready from Genesis would be a better choice because it has a very obvious riff that demonstrates "9".

[@Luaporleafcutterant]

Money switches time signatures during the chorus, I don't know about the solo.

[@mal2ksc]

_Tubular Bells_ is 7/8, at least at the beginning. 2+2+3 as the basis for 7/8 also drives DMB - _The dreaming Tree_ and stretches of Rush - _Natural Science._ This is the first grouping I'll imagine if someone says "7/8 time" without actually demonstrating.

[@joshburns1777]

Tubular Bells is almost but not quite in 7/8. If you had to find one time signature to label it as it would technically be 15/4 (7/8 + 7/8 + 7/8 + 9/8, which you sort of hear as 7/4 + 8/4, hence 15/4 for a single time signature). It would be very impractical and improper to write it like this though, so it will simply be written as a changing time signature as in my parentheses: 7/8 + 7/8 + 7/8 + 9/8. Money is in 7/4 and switches to 4/4 for the chorus and also for the solo (as well as the brief pre-solo build-up). It was written in 7/4, despite odd and erroneous statements that it was written in 7/8 (which are incorrect). The reason which I can remember reading to explain why it switches to 4/4 for the solo is simply (and perhaps disappointingly) because David Gilmour didn't like the idea of trying to solo in 7/4. It's probably also just because structurally it can make sense for the solo to be in 4/4 because the choruses have at that point already been in 4/4.

[@KeithCollyer]

Josh Burns I hear Tubular Bells as more like 7/8 + 8/8 - listen for the extra beat every other bar

[@joshburns1777]

Keith Collyer Yeah that is what I said, but what you're describing isn't 7/8 + 8/8, it's 7/4 + 8/4, like I said. If you read the first paragraph of my original comment I explain why.

[@sk8muppet]

Great stuff here, really enjoyed the examples you picked. Good points about using them with 4/4 to create grooves

[@gustavoalcarde]

You made it very easy to understand, the way you switched from the scales to the actual song was brilliant.

[@mathiasthebariguy1187]

As soon as 7/4 was introduced I knew Money was coming 😂

[@ricardocastillo5485]

Me too! I was waiting for him to talk about 11 and Whipping Post.

[@checkYVELLUAP]

"bm pentatonic" ok its pink floyd

[@slimyelow]

"how can we parse them"; now you got my attention...

[@arsalmonar]

By far the best explanation of time signatures I could find on YT and great musical examples in this long, cold, lonely winter... Thanks ;)

[@I_scooter_fast]

This video blew my mind! I am brand new at learning music theory and play very little acoustic guitar but know the basics. I really enjoyed your video! Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@danieljgavigan]

Genesis - 'Supper's Ready' has a section called 'Apocalypse in 9/8'

[@tacofacefart]

One of the best examples of "effective" of odd time is spoonmam from Soundgarden. The opening riff is in 7/something but then the song takes off in 4/4. But the 4/4 feels really really 'rewarding' to listen to.

[@johnstevens8253]

The main verse riff in My Wave is in 5/4. It sounds really cool.

[@2Langdon]

Another excellent no BS, clear and useable, useful session! Thanks very much, Jake. I just had my brain mushed by watching several Jacob Collier videos (inspiring or what?) so thank you for helping me get to grips. I'm one of your patreon supporters.

[@dougschrecengostii3656]

Brilliant video. I agree in that odd times are challenging, and certainly drive music beyond 4/4. Polyrhythms!!

[@evergreenrider]

Very informative sir. I'm not a musician, I came hear to try to understand time signatures and polyrhythms after getting into Tool (lol). You're fantastic at teaching and explaining in a very easy to understand way. Thank you kind sir!

[@BiRDiEHere]

Your voice should be on a radio broadcast 😁

[@fleeb]

I view rhythm as combinations and permutations of 2 or 3 divisions of time. So, 5/4 is either 3 + 2 quarter notes per measure, or 2 + 3 quarter notes per measure, which help you figure out how to emphasize the beats when performing. Knowing this, you will find a lot of western music with a 6/4 or 6/8 time signature if you consider the division to be 3 + 3 /4 or 3 + 3 / 8, as it has a triplet feel, like dit dah dah, dit dah dah. I say 'permutations' in my first sentence, though, because a beat can be subdivided into divisions that themselves are composed of combinations or permutations of 3 or 2 divisions of time. So, in 6 / 4, you could have bit ditdit dah, ditdit dah dah [(quarter, two eigths, quarter), (two eighths, quarter, quarter)] or maybe bit digidee dah, digidee ditdit dah [(quarter, triplet eighths, quarter),(triplet eighths, two eighths, quarter)]. One you see things this way, you can do batshit crazy weird stuff with what otherwise looks like ordinary time signatures.

[@raywatts5702]

Brilliant explanation and examples, thanks Jake, happy new year!!

[@ozricus]

All of Animals As Leaders' songs are in odd times.

[@DoraRobertson]

CAFO was one of the first songs I thought of while watching this.

[@brianmcfarland6548]

9/8 and 11/8 are actually very common in Gaelic styles of musics

[@pinkdispatcher]

I don't know how common it really is, but I know Iona's Bi-Se i Mo Shúil - Part 2, which has a long second part in 11/8, with a great low whistle solo by Troy Donockley.

[@quasarsphere]

9/8 is slip jig time. I've not encountered 11/8.

[@marcosdeboni7109]

Excellent video! I can't imagine a better explanation. You're pretty good as a music educator, clearly you love what you do

[@rompofotters]

A favorite time change of mine is in Wolves, by Big Wreck. It's so subtle many people miss it. But that's why I love it, they make it so smooth you can barely tell it's there.

[@alsatusmd1A13]

9/8 in and of itself isn't actually so odd for Western music compared to the other meters you discuss in this video. It is just supposed to be counted as dotted quarter notes rather than quarter or eighth notes in classical theory. Also, if you resign any so-called "odd" meter with notes of half or quarter duration, you can recreate super-compound versions of popular rhythms (e. g. 10/8 [as 5/4 resigned with eighths] can be a march or a samba, "15/12" [as 5/4 resigned with triplets of eighths] can be a waltz and 20/16 [as 5/4 resigned with sixteenths] can be just about anything else).

[@Draygir]

Listen to enough Tool Songs and you get interesting videos like this as recommendation. :)

[@ArcherWillows]

literally just listen to dance of eternity once and time signature videos flood your reccomendations

[@mikejeannotte6642]

Crushed it. Best instructional video on odd time signatures I’ve ever seen.

[@sergiocortez7600]

Simply mindblown. I'm not a schooled musician, but I play piano (learned from empirical teacher at age 5), and self-taught in guitar and drums. With your videos, now I can be a little more analytical with my favorite prog band, Dream Theater. Thank you very much, man.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I think odd time signatures written in ways that sound natural are the best. Something strange like 5/4 that isn't obviously screaming in your face that it's 5, I think makes some interesting sounding.

[@justincase9284]

8:56 self note. Odd time signatures back into 4/4 will give 44 more power/groove.?

[@pderitis]

This is excellent, thank you so much! It it really explains time signatures in a way that I have not heard done elsewhere, at least not that I’ve seen! Thanks!

[@drewlaredo7220]

What a great video. Explanations with examples are flawless.....

[@ldahui]

Take Five

[@devonoved7]

Seven Days - Sting

[@baylinkdashyt]

ldahui The canonical example, yes.

[@yeetusdeletus9]

Such a smooth sounding song. I think I like jazz now lol, thanks

[@egilsandnes9637]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6i3kGd-gtKqsLs

[@ilokikoval]

O cool, banning a music tutorial video for containaining music, genius xD

[@swamdono]

I like how they think it's taking away from the Beatles, when in fact censoring this video will stop people who haven't heard them from discovering them.

[@hybridwafer]

It's alright. It gave me an impromptu reason to go listen to the Ghost B.C. version of Here comes the Sun which is probably my favourite cover of all time.

[@brianhelmuth9414]

Fair use can only be established as the modus operandi in a court of law, not willy nilly. Hate the KZbinrs lack of legal knowledge on this matter.

[@thirdthirteenstudio]

Awesome bro! Finally i found the most easiest way to understand the concept of time signature. As a self-taught composer, I really appreciate this (y)

[@micustic]

Great work, thank you, very clear and inspiring, M.

[@ktm_nl]

Just play the whole album of dream theater😂

[@volderhamer]

*every

[@kjl3080]

@@volderhamer dream theater is also the name of their self titled album

[@hectormendoza7261]

Aahh, I see what you did there at the end of the video...odd time signature editing...wise man

[@bryanyasuhara2994]

Super helpful. Thanks for another great video!

[@trevormcmanis]

This is a fantastic video. You have a real knack for teaching. Thank you for sharing this video. Two huge thumbs up 👍🏻👍🏻 from American One Productions Rehearsal Studios in NJ.

[@gregorygelfenbuym8487]

Hey, great video. The times in the description aren't precise, and there's a mistake in Home's time signature there (15/16 instead of 19/16), I guess it's because of the removed Beatles track.

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Ha thank you for commenting on that, I'll fix it!

[@philf4086]

Zappa, Kansas, Rush, Yes.

[@granterwin952]

As someone who is starting to take playing music seriously, this video is a great help in understanding time signatures. Thanks!

[@devolve42]

If KZbin had been around 30 years ago I would probably still be a musician. I took a lot of lessons on various instruments and classes on theory and composition. I had some great instrument teachers, but all the theory teaches seemed to go out of their way to suck all the fun out of it and make it as murky and difficult to understand as possible. There are a lot of great theory lessons on KZbin, both deep explorations of certain concepts, and just quick illustrations that really simplify and make it all make sense. This channel is one of the best. People have so much more education at their disposal now. I'm envious!