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 The following files will open in their associated programs. Click on the Images Easy Access to Odd Meters| December, 2007Listen for familiar patterns to break down unfamiliar grooves. In a world where most popular music you hear grooves along in 4/4 time, it can take a while to grasp the feel for tunes written with an odd number of beats per measure, especially with such time signatures as 5/4, 7/8, and 11/8. Take for instance Michel Camilo’s “Hurry Up and Wait,” a portion of which is transcribed on page 49. The 7/4 meter gives this tune a unique flavor, with strong beats and accents in places you might not be used to. Though it may seem difficult at first, there’s good news. In odd-metered pieces, you’re likely to find a pattern of rhythms and accents that allow you to break each measure down into more familiar, bite-size chunks. With “Hurry Up and Wait,” for example, the phrasing allows you to split the 7/4 groove down into a pattern of four beats followed by a pattern of three. Check out the example below for tips on using imaginary bar lines to help you go deep into 7/4 time. When you look at the transcription of “Hurry Up And Wait,” try pencilling in some imaginary bar lines of your own. Use the same pattern, placing a line between beats four and five of each measure. This will help you break it down and make the rhythms not only easier to read, but easier to feel as well. |
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