{"id":20,"date":"2018-08-05T03:53:19","date_gmt":"2018-08-05T03:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshanin.com\/blog\/?p=20"},"modified":"2026-01-06T04:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T04:12:00","slug":"odd-meters-and-time-signatures-in-music-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshanin.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/05\/odd-meters-and-time-signatures-in-music-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"ODD METERS AND TIME SIGNATURES IN MUSIC – Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 2: <\/b><\/span>Classification of O<\/b><\/span>dd <\/b><\/span>M<\/b><\/span>eters<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(Previous essay: \u201cPart 1: Introduction to Odd Meters<\/a>\u201d)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Defining the term \u201codd meter<\/i>\u201d can be somewhat confusing because the word \u201codd<\/i>\u201d implies multiple meanings. Depending on the context, the word itself refers to a variety of different things and situations including: unusual, irregular, unexpected, eccentric, fantastic, bizarre etc. While some musicians often use the word \u201codd<\/i>\u201d to describe an irregular or uncommon time signature or meter, the correct term for all non-ordinary meters is \u201cunusual meter<\/i>\u201d while \u201codd meter<\/i>\u201d refers specifically to meters with an odd number of beats. In other words, the time signature marking for an odd meter<\/i> will always have an odd number for the upper numeral.<\/p>\n

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All odd meters<\/i> can be classified in two categories, depending on the pulse of music they create:<\/p>\n

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– Simple<\/b><\/i> or <\/i>Basic <\/b><\/i>O<\/b><\/i>dd <\/b><\/i>M<\/b><\/i>eters<\/b><\/i> which create an even, steady pulse in music: 3\/4, 5\/4, 7\/4 etc.<\/p>\n

– Complex<\/b><\/i> or <\/i>Advanced <\/b><\/i>O<\/b><\/i>dd <\/b><\/i>M<\/b><\/i>eters<\/b><\/i> which create an uneven pulse in music: 5\/8, 7\/8, 11\/8, 13\/8, 15\/8 etc.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s an example of a 3\/4 simple odd meter<\/i>:<\/p>\n