Grounding Odd-Time Grooves With a Quarter-Note Pulse Playing songs in odd times can be challenging to you as a drummer, but one thing that doesn’t get much attention is how tough odd times can be on the audience. It’s called “odd” for a reason—because it feels odd. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. A great number of pop tunes are in an odd meter, yet they don’t feel uncomfortable at all. Some examples are “Saint Augustine in Hell” and “I Hung My Head” by Sting (with the great Vinnie Colaiuta on drums), “Dreaming in Metaphors” by Seal, and “Seven” by the Dave Matthews Band. Time signatures can be organized into two groups: common time (4/4, 2/4, and 6/8) and odd time (3/4, 5/8, 7/8, 11/16, etc.). With a song in 5/8 or 7/8, the audience is constantly trying to find the pulse, but as soon as they […]

March 2014 Issue