ODD TIME DRUM COURSE

develop your understanding

of odd time signatures

© 2018 www.totaldrummer.com

Odd Time Beginner Course Introduction

What are time signatures? Odd time refers to the time signature. The time signature is displayed as two numbers at the start of a piece of music; one above the other.

The top number tells us how many beats are in the bar. The bottom number tells us the note value of those beats. The most common time signature is four four. The top number tells us there are four beats in the bar. The bottom number tells us that they

are quarter notes (crotchets). So four four means there are four quarter notes in the bar. We can subdivide those four quarter notes into eighth notes or sixteenth notes but it will always add up to four quarter notes. What is odd time? So odd time simply means we are playing in a time signature with an odd number of beats in it. And at the same time these time signatures tend to feel a bit odd (as in strange) as well because we are so used to the even four four rhythms.

If we have a piece in five four then we have five quarter notes in a bar. So to relate it to four four time signature it just means playing one extra beat per bar. If we have a piece in three four then it means there are three quarter notes in a bar, so one beat less per bar than in four four. If we have a piece in seven eight it would mean there are seven eighth notes in a bar. To relate that to four four just think about how many eighth notes are in a bar of four four.......Eight! So seven eight simply means playing one eighth note less per bar.

It might all feel very alien at first so go slow, count the rhythms carefully and gradually build them up. Once you get comfortable with each example try playing in a loop with the fills. You can then work up towards beingable to play with the appropriate playalong tracks at Total Drummer. Let’s get started.

Odd Time Beats

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© www.totaldrummer.com 2018

The Challenge!

Odd Time Fills

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© www.totaldrummer.com 2018

The Challenge!