Odd time-signatures apreciation

mmmm, love a good odd siggie !

himtroy wrote: The beginning of Indiscipline is pretty wild.  I've never even figured out what it is.  I'm pretty sure it has a lot to do with playing on up beats, then down beats alternating.  But who the hell knows, and Bruford's crazy drumming doesn't help at all.   Caravan does lots of 6/8 and 5/8 alternating, or it could be viewed as 11/8, either way it's awkward sounding.

Rabid wrote: Mike_Zed wrote: the Turn It on Again's 13/4 is amazing, because of how Collins managed to make it seem like a C signature (C = 4/4). I think that's my favourite odd time-sig. This thread seems like a nice idea to me. If we had a composer / drummer among us maybe he'd like to show us an unusual pattern of his idea.   C=4/4 ?   Could you explain this, please ?

With pleasure. The 'C' symbol stands for 'tempus imperfectum' (which does not make any sense but that's music we're talking about) - a medieval symbol that stands for the 4/4 time signature. It is also used nowadays in western musical notation alongside a "semicircle" with a vertical line through ("tempus perfectum diminutum") a symbol for 2/2.

Mike_Zed wrote: Rabid wrote: Mike_Zed wrote: the Turn It on Again's 13/4 is amazing, because of how Collins managed to make it seem like a C signature (C = 4/4). I think that's my favourite odd time-sig. This thread seems like a nice idea to me. If we had a composer / drummer among us maybe he'd like to show us an unusual pattern of his idea.   C=4/4 ?   Could you explain this, please ?   With pleasure. The 'C' symbol stands for 'tempus imperfectum' (which does not make any sense but that's music we're talking about) - a medieval symbol that stands for the 4/4 time signature. It is also used nowadays in western musical notation alongside a "semicircle" with a vertical line through ("tempus perfectum diminutum") a symbol for 2/2.

Negoba wrote: If you want insanity try counting the intro to "Firth of Fifth" instead of just doing it by feel.

Been a while. Doesn't that jump from 13/16 to 15/16 and then to 7/8 after the piano part?

Tool's "Schism" is probably the most peculiarly-metered song to ever become a big radio hit.  (They've jokingly said it's in 6.5/8.)

I get a kick out of non-proggers using odd meters.  Soundgarden used 7 fairly often, like on "Outshined".

Celestial Terrestrial Commuters by Mahavishnu Orchestra - 19/16

Moshkito, i think you dont understood the objective of the forum. Its not to give a name, or a time for a feeling. It's just to listen, compare and enjoy hearing a odd time signature and the sensation that it brings to the music. And, yes. I think its normal that a composer sit down, define a time signature and make a song on it. You can idealize your song before making it. Bach did that (his songs are matematically writen, not "emotionally"). 

Nilsen wrote: Personally, I love Univers Zero's presage use of odd time sigs. It really have that great crazy rhythmic feel, without getting to complex. And the bizarre harmonies on top of that, make it sound even cooler!

Another Zero fan.  I'm new to them but am becoming a big fan.  My sense of time signatures is just instinctive though.  I couldn't identify or play to a particular time signature.  I can't listen to anything and identify what key it's in.  I am drawn to the complex in music though.

By the way can anyone tell me if the Darryl Hall song Something In 4/4 Time actually is?  Or 2/4 time?  It does have some things that rhyme.


Edited by Slartibartfast - September 18 2010 at 07:29

The Uzbek band Fromuz has a song called "13th August" which is largely in 13/8 time.  And, this is laikely where the song title comes from.  (In date-month notation, August 13th is 13th August, or 13/8)