Author Topic: Question about a time signature  (Read 1934 times)

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SebastianPratesi

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Question about a time signature
« on: February 11, 2016, 09:54:32 AM »
In the "General Music Discussion", I shared some music from my country (this is the topic: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45968.0).

One of the songs is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw_2DBie7ho. I like the whole song, but there is this bit I love which which has an odd time signature. It first appears in 2:38 and goes on for 30 seconds (it's played 5 times). The bit re-appears at 4:38, after the drum solo.

To me, the repeating bit sounds like a bar of 6/4, followed by another bar of 6/4 in which the last eighth note has been cut.

So, if my math is correct (2 . 6/4  -  1/8), the time signature is 23/8.

So, my question to anyone with knowledge of rhythm/music-writing: is that correct? Should it be written as 23/8?
I ask because I don't recall seeing that fraction as a time signature ever before.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the song as much as I do.

Offline DarkLord_Lalinc

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2016, 11:31:44 AM »
I'd tackle it like this:

It's easier to make a combination of different time signatures than to play a 23/8 bar, which although it's mathematically correct, it's not musically relevant I'd say. How would you fit a bar of 23 8th notes and make it sound musical?  :lol

I would put it like this:
6/4 + 11/8
or
6/4 + 4/4 + 3/8

Something to that effect.
« Last Edit: February 11, 2016, 02:19:04 PM by DarkLord_Lalinc »
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Offline Sir GuitarCozmo

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2016, 01:02:47 PM »
The sequence is really weird sounding.  It's like the drums are a hair out of time or something.  Either way, Darklol has it pretty well figured out, though me personally, I'd divide it up like so: 4/4 + 4/4 + 7/8

SebastianPratesi

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2016, 03:37:56 PM »
Thanks, guys. I also thought 23/8 would be "too much". I guessed it would be convenient to write it that way, so as not to have the need to change the signature several times while writing. I've always thought that was the norm.

I think 6/4 + 11/8 sounds good to me.

Offline splent

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2016, 05:45:59 PM »
I still feel a clear 1-2-3 at first so yeah probably a 6/4 + 11/8 would be accurate
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Offline home

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2016, 03:17:19 PM »
Thanks, guys. I also thought 23/8 would be "too much". I guessed it would be convenient to write it that way, so as not to have the need to change the signature several times while writing. I've always thought that was the norm.

I think 6/4 + 11/8 sounds good to me.
What about three measures of 3/4 or 6/8 and then one of 5/8? That would be easiest way to read sheat music of it I think. 3/4 or 6/4 instead of 6/8 does make more sense because the accented beats are right then.

By the way that part is stuck in my head know, I quite like it :azn:
« Last Edit: February 12, 2016, 03:28:43 PM by home »
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Offline splent

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2016, 03:48:24 PM »
 It's really really hard to tell because the drummer is on the offbeat so much that I can't tell if it's on the offbeat or the onbeat :lol
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SebastianPratesi

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2016, 09:45:39 PM »
By the way that part is stuck in my head know, I quite like it :azn:
It's one of my favourite moments from the album. If you like this song, I think you might also like "Limón tres", which you can find on that same channel.

Also: I like your way of breaking down the meters, it sounds natural, I guess.

Offline Manolito Mystiq

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2016, 02:10:54 PM »
I count it as 3/4 3/4 3/4 5/8:


SebastianPratesi

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2016, 05:42:26 PM »
Hey, Manolito, thanks! That way of counting is also what my head does, but since I'm used to thinking of weird odd-time signatures as 2 different bars, I thought it's written/thought as 6/4 and 11/8.

By the way, did you like the riff/song? Because, if I didn't like a song, I would never take the time to write down as detailed as you did.
Or maybe you are a professional musician/composer and this is just to practice?

Either way, I'm glad I was able to spread the music of Barro (the band) a little further around the world.

Offline Manolito Mystiq

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2016, 12:08:58 PM »
I really don’t want to brag when I say it took about 5 minutes to write that down.

I studied at a music institute and currently I’m about to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Musicology.

SebastianPratesi

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Re: Question about a time signature
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2016, 07:46:22 PM »
Cool! Good luck with that!