Re: artists that make odd time signatures sound natural/ danceable
The trick is to start simple. write a 3/4 pattern and a 4/4 pattern and play until they both start over at the same time. The more odd the time the different periods between cycles. but a 3/4 beat behind a 4/4 synth pattern changes EVERYTHING about the feel.
Re: artists that make odd time signatures sound natural/ danceable
Sting is really good at that sort of thing. His "Ten Summoner's Tales" album is largely odd-time songs that sound completely natural until you try to count them out. The drummer, Vinnie Colaiuta places the snare hits in spots that almost make it sound like he's just playing a 4/4 groove but changing up the placement of said hits, and that really helps make things sound more natural.
It's a fantastic album from a songwriting standpoint too!
Re: artists that make odd time signatures sound natural/ danceable
Quote:
Originally Posted by essenthy
Tool arnt really doing much odd time signature
For most of their songs this is true, but:
Quote:
"Schism" is renowned for its use of uncommon time signatures and the frequency of its meter changes. In one analysis of the song, the song alters meter 47 times.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register] The song begins with two bars of 5/4, followed by one bar of 4/4, followed by bars of alternating 5/8 and 7/8, until the first interlude, which consists of alternating bars of 6/8 and 7/8. The following verse exhibits a similar pattern to the first, alternating bars of 5/8 and 7/8. The next section is bars of 6/4 followed by one bar of 11/8. This takes the song back into alternating 5/8 and 7/8. Another 6/8 and 7/8 section follows, and after this the song goes into repeating 7/8 bars.
The middle section is subsequently introduced, consisting of three bars of 6/8, one bar of 3/8, and one bar of 3/4 repeating several times. At one point it interrupts with two bars of 6/8 followed by a bar of 4/8, twice. A bar of 5/8 is played before the meter switches back to 6/8 for two bars and 2/4 for one bar. This repeats, setting up another section: two bars of 9/8 followed by a bar of 10/8, that pattern again, and then a single bar of 9/8 followed by alternating bars of 6/8 and 7/8. The outro has alternating bars of 5/8 and 7/8, ending with alternating 6/8, 2/8 that one could interpret as pulsing with a 4/4 feel.
The band has referred to the time signature as 6.5/8.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register] Although many composers would use 13/16 instead, 6.5/8 is still a valid fractional time signature.
Re: artists that make odd time signatures sound natural/ danceable
If you guys want good tips for making sweet beats that dance around the time like drunken monkeys, check out the book Rhythmic Illusions by Gavin Harrison; it's one of my books for this months and it is dope!
Re: artists that make odd time signatures sound natural/ danceable
There's one song by Bonobo called Animals that's in 7 until little over halfway through the song where it changes to 6. I don't know if this is the kind of thing you're looking for (it's downtempo) but it is worth a listen cause it has a nice groove to it in my opinion!
Re: artists that make odd time signatures sound natural/ danceable
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Originally Posted by OrangeFilterSky
There's one song by Bonobo called Animals that's in 7 until little over halfway through the song where it changes to 6. I don't know if this is the kind of thing you're looking for (it's downtempo) but it is worth a listen cause it has a nice groove to it in my opinion!
I never noticed that, I've listened to that album so many times too lol. Great track.
Peacock Tail by BoC is a good one, never thought much of it and then I went back and started counting things out, really threw me for a loop. I think its based around the fibonacci sequence but I could be completely wrong.
Re: artists that make odd time signatures sound natural/ danceable
Perhaps my favorite artist that does this is Frog Pocket. He has a bunch of tracks in odd time signatures which sound quite natural in my opinion. Check out "hurrah sapphire moon" for example. Then off the top of my head there's Do Make Say Think, ilkae and Sweet Trip who use odd or mixed time signatures in a way that sounds very natural. Though I can't recall them right now, I know there are a bunch more. Mixed time signatures are actually quite common in electronic music, especially idm.
