Odd Meters - Getting Around And Utilizing Polyrhythmic Technique

The measure of 3/4 may show the feel changing from 3/4 to 6/8. Though the 4/4 meter is usually played straight or swung, it can be divided into groupings which create an odd time feel. What is probably the most common non standard break down of this time signature, dividing it into two groups of three eighth notes and one group of two eighth notes, hides the 4/4 pulse and makes the time sound like a compound meter, that is, 3 plus 3 plus 2/8. Of course, other break downs are possible, with 3 plus 2 plus 3, 2 plus 3 plus 3, 3 plus 5 and 5 plus 3 being the most practical choices. Tempos range from quarter note equal 60 bpm (for slower ballads) to over 200 bpm (for energetic feels).

Dividing a 3/4 measure into two groups of three eighth notes is the most common way of breaking up 3/4 into a non standard grouping. This creates what is essentially 6/8. It is fairly common in tunes where this is done by some instruments, especially drums, for other instruments to continue playing in standard 3/4, broken up into three groups of two eighth notes; this creates a polyrhythmic feel (3 against 2, with eighth notes, of course, being of equal duration). The tempo markings can range from quarter note equal 88 bpm up to 192 bpm.

The standard way of playing 9/8 is to count it as having three beats per measure, with three eighth notes equaling one beat. Another fairly common way to feel 9/8 is to have a predominant duple feel throughout the measure accompanied by one triple grouping of eighth notes at the end, essentially making it 2 plus 2 plus 2 plus 3/8. This approach is often found in Middle Eastern rhythms (Dave Brubecks "Blue Rondo a la Turk" being a perfect example of Turkish influence). When counted in this way, the count changes to 9 beats per measure and the 8th note pulse remains brisk.

Another common way of breaking down 9/8 is 3 plus 2 plus 2 plus 2. Of course, there are other ways of breaking down 9/8, but 2 plus 2 plus 2 plus 3 and 3 plus 2 plus 2 plus 2 are the most practical options for the duple emphasis. As with the previous time signatures, the practical tempo range remains at approximately eighth note equal from 192 to 320 bpm. In order to play in meters such as 11/8, 15/8, 19/8, etc, take any of the previous odd meter examples and add an even number meter to it (e.g, adding 4/4 to 7/4 gives you 11/4). However, the more common approach is to add an odd grouping of eighth notes to a measure of 4/4 (e.g, adding a measure of 3/8 to a measure of 4/4 gives you 11/8).

Likewise, odd time meters utilizing a 16th note pulse can be created by changing the bottom number of any of the previous meters to "16" (e.g, 5/8 becomes 10/16). As a result, the tempo would increase by 2 to 4 times relative to the previous meters. All, with the exception of the 11/8 variation from "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers, which is broken down 3 plus 3 plus 3 plus 2 were created by adding odd groupings of eighth notes to a 4/4 meter. Because the primary pulse becomes the eighth note, the practical tempo range remains the same as for the previous examples with an eighth note pulse at eighth note equals from 192 to 320 bpm.

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By Eric Starg. Eric owns a selection of Vintage Drums, and recommends to make sure Drum Lugs are securely tighten on the drum shell, otherwise, tuning will damage the drum, another advice is to get your self a Drum Dvd that will show the tuning process step by step.

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