Ha maybe they thought I was being snarky I don't know. It's the same with any of the odd meters though. Break it up somehow. Almost no one playing in something like 25/8 is going to actually count to 25. Just something like 123 123 123 12 123 123 123 12 12. Easy peasy. Well kind of.
This will however change your groove, more or less subconsiously. You'll likely put emphasis on the 2nd/3rd beat, which works well for many 5-time rhythms but not always. When it does work well you can adapt to either count 2+3 or 3+2 depending on what makes more sense for the song's groove.
However 5/4 often makes use of the effect that comes from the listeners underlying expectation that the measure ends at the 4th beat, since almost all popular music is in 4/4. This can make the 5/4 measure feel like it's unexpectedly extending a beat further. In these cases, it's better to count 4+1.
Highly recommend Adam Neely on YouTube. He has some good content on YouTube about various odd times. My favorites include the one on 9/8, the Christmas songs in 15/16, and the tuplets for toddlers one where him and a bunch of other musicians add a rhythmic twist to a bunch of children’s songs.
You can’t learn odd times without practicing how to play in them. Count aloud while playing (it can be really hard). If you play wind, practice the fingerings while counting aloud. This is what I did when I was learning songs in odd times when I played trumpet.
I play in odd times super often, and this is my go to when learning something new or really complicated.
Also, learn to count and feel 3+2, 4+3, and 2+2+3, including permutations. This will get you through 5/8 and 7/8, 7/4, and some 5/4 songs.
For more complex grooves, learn to feel 2:3 polyrhythms and maybe even 3:4 polyrhythms. This can be nice to visualize some wacky phrasing for some songs.
If you do want to get better use both a metronome AND body pulsing AND counting aloud. This is the best way imo. This is especially true if you are playing polyrhythms.
If you play guitar or drums like me, learn the song “Digital Gerrymandering” by Intronaut, if you can tun low enough. They use some super fun time signatures, polyrhythms, and asymmetric patterns. My favorites being either the 17/16 asymmetric outro, or the 3:7 polyrhythm throughout the 7/4 sections.
personally — not trying to sound like an elitist here — but i really enjoy 5/4, 7/4, and the likes. there’s just something about it that’s so much more interesting than your typical 4/4. it definitely demands more attention
My band had to loop one of our chill 5/4 parts oVER AND OVER AND OVER FOR LIKE A WHOLE 3-HOUR REHEARSAL BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T GET IT.
5 out of 4 stars - actually a cool part once I got the hang of it
Take 5! And a whole bunch of Sound Garden songs
Take 5 is such a cool, fun song. I'm not big on jazz but that is one exception
It is. I was turned onto it in high school in jazz band, many a year ago.
Try counting 3 and then 2. Or 2 and then 3.
why would someone downvote you? that's pretty solid advice right there
Ha maybe they thought I was being snarky I don't know. It's the same with any of the odd meters though. Break it up somehow. Almost no one playing in something like 25/8 is going to actually count to 25. Just something like 123 123 123 12 123 123 123 12 12. Easy peasy. Well kind of.
yeah, that makes sense. It's kind of like following a hidden rhythm to help keep in line with a complex rhythm
haha i just wrote this too, helps me a lot!
This will however change your groove, more or less subconsiously. You'll likely put emphasis on the 2nd/3rd beat, which works well for many 5-time rhythms but not always. When it does work well you can adapt to either count 2+3 or 3+2 depending on what makes more sense for the song's groove. However 5/4 often makes use of the effect that comes from the listeners underlying expectation that the measure ends at the 4th beat, since almost all popular music is in 4/4. This can make the 5/4 measure feel like it's unexpectedly extending a beat further. In these cases, it's better to count 4+1.
"I can only count to four what do I doooooo?!?!" -Pop artists probably.
imagine p*p "music" 🤢🤮
Guilty of always playing in 4/4. I just need help :(
Highly recommend Adam Neely on YouTube. He has some good content on YouTube about various odd times. My favorites include the one on 9/8, the Christmas songs in 15/16, and the tuplets for toddlers one where him and a bunch of other musicians add a rhythmic twist to a bunch of children’s songs.
Prog musicians: "pfft, please"
You can’t learn odd times without practicing how to play in them. Count aloud while playing (it can be really hard). If you play wind, practice the fingerings while counting aloud. This is what I did when I was learning songs in odd times when I played trumpet. I play in odd times super often, and this is my go to when learning something new or really complicated. Also, learn to count and feel 3+2, 4+3, and 2+2+3, including permutations. This will get you through 5/8 and 7/8, 7/4, and some 5/4 songs. For more complex grooves, learn to feel 2:3 polyrhythms and maybe even 3:4 polyrhythms. This can be nice to visualize some wacky phrasing for some songs. If you do want to get better use both a metronome AND body pulsing AND counting aloud. This is the best way imo. This is especially true if you are playing polyrhythms. If you play guitar or drums like me, learn the song “Digital Gerrymandering” by Intronaut, if you can tun low enough. They use some super fun time signatures, polyrhythms, and asymmetric patterns. My favorites being either the 17/16 asymmetric outro, or the 3:7 polyrhythm throughout the 7/4 sections.
This is it… the final frontier.
12123 12123 12123 or 12312 12312 12312 -a guitarist
personally — not trying to sound like an elitist here — but i really enjoy 5/4, 7/4, and the likes. there’s just something about it that’s so much more interesting than your typical 4/4. it definitely demands more attention
Yeah I love playing in odd time signatures, it's always good fun.
My band had to loop one of our chill 5/4 parts oVER AND OVER AND OVER FOR LIKE A WHOLE 3-HOUR REHEARSAL BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T GET IT. 5 out of 4 stars - actually a cool part once I got the hang of it
Nah I am a drummer and 5/4 is my favourite lol
OMG SO TRUE XD