{"id":51,"date":"2018-11-05T20:53:04","date_gmt":"2018-11-05T20:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshanin.com\/blog\/?p=51"},"modified":"2026-01-06T04:19:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T04:19:31","slug":"odd-meters-and-time-signatures-in-music-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshanin.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/05\/odd-meters-and-time-signatures-in-music-part-5\/","title":{"rendered":"ODD METERS AND TIME SIGNATURES IN MUSIC – Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 5: Examples of Odd Meters in Modern Music<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Previous essay: \u201cPart 4: Feeling (and Understanding) the Odd Meters<\/a>\u201d)<\/i><\/p>\n

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Odd meters are such an important element of traditional Balkan music that even in a randomly picked song we would most likely encounter an odd metered rhythm. However, odd meters are not exclusive to Balkan music and, although even meters (especially 4\/4) are definitely prevalent in contemporary music, they are not as rare as one would expect and can be found in various musical styles all over the world.<\/p>\n

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On the other hand, some music styles utilize only even meters and odds of finding an odd-metered song in such styles would be equal to winning a lottery jackpot. Some of such styles include Reggae, Disco, Salsa, Tango<\/i> and other Ballroom dance<\/i> styles (excluding the Waltz which is based exclusively on a 3\/4 meter), Club, Techno<\/i> and others. The main reason for the choice of even meters in these styles is the fact that the primary function of music is to accompany dancing and to allow dancers to focus all their attention to body movement and intricate dance routines. Indeed, a simple and steady rhythmic flow in 2\/4 and 4\/4 meters creates such solid rhythmic foundation and provides the dancers with a predictable and easy-to-follow pulse.<\/p>\n

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Certain purpose-specific music styles that are based exclusively on even meters include binaural beats for brainwave entrainment and traditional percussion-driven healing music. Any inconsistencies in the pulse of such music would create a distraction, interfere with its \u201chypnotic\u201d qualities and ultimately prevent the mind from entering the altered states.<\/p>\n

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We could add to this list even music for relaxation and meditation, except that here the rhythm functions as a very distant and merely supportive element and is usually overshadowed by the slow motion of the sonic landscape with all of its often densely textured, lush layers.<\/p>\n

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Jazz music<\/i>, being one of the more sophisticated contemporary music styles, naturally abounds with compositions based on a variety of unusual and odd meters, however there are plenty of examples of odd meters in various other styles of music, even in Rock<\/i> and Pop<\/i> music. Progressive Rock<\/i> groups such as Genesis<\/b><\/i>, <\/b>Jethro Tull<\/b><\/i>, <\/b>Rush<\/b><\/i> and many others experimented extensively with odd meters and even some mainstream artists had written odd meter based songs.<\/p>\n

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An excellent example is Sting<\/b><\/i>\u2019s song \u201cStraight to My Heart<\/b><\/i>\u201d released on his 1987 album \u201c…Nothing Like the Sun<\/b><\/i>\u201d and written in 7\/4. This specific version of the 7\/4 meter (2+2+3) gives the lead melody a very interesting phrasing while still retaining a steady pulse of the music. The lead melody could have easily fit in a 6\/4 meter as well, however Sting<\/i>\u2019s choice of the 7\/4 meter accommodates it much better by creating a more relaxed feel and allowing the singer to breathe between each line of the lyrics.<\/p>\n

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\u201cStraight to my Heart\u201d by Sting:<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zqb1sic8Gw4<\/a><\/p>\n