# Pop/rock songs with unusual meters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052 "2005-04-13T00:21:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/41 "2005-04-13T16:08:58Z")
“[You Just May Be the One](http://www.mainstreetmusic.com/cgi-bin/msmusic/LA0000960825.html)” by **The Monkees** (a Mike Nesmith tune) has a few bars of 5/4 scattered through the song. Great tune, by the way. When I make my quirky, Wes-Anderson-esque independent movie, that song will be featured prominently in the soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/42 "2005-04-13T17:51:16Z")
Could anyone here tell me what the time sig is on Dave Matthews’ “Satellite”? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/43 "2005-04-13T18:28:50Z")
I found this interesting article about [Soundgarden’s time signatures:](http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/theguitar_12-96.shtml) > [@](#): > > “Mmm,” ponders the hairiest man [Kim Thayil] in ‘far too clever to be metal’ metal. “We don’t try to write a song in 7/8 or 9/8, it really does just happen. Where did that come from? Oh, the inability to dance in 4/4, hahah! No, it’s really just the way we hear things. Even in the beginning when I couldn’t even identify time signatures I was still writing songs in 7 or 5; it was Matt who had to tell us it was in 13.” > > “I guess we write strangely timed riffs and, for me, the riff is normally when you know you’ve got a good idea for a song. Having said that, Chris writes now straight from vocal melody - Blow Up The Outside World is a good example of that, not based on a riff but a vocal line - but myself, Matt and Ben are very riff-orientated. For riffs, I guess AC/DC and Zeppelin are masters. Ours might be more skewed but we never meant to do it - that would be real pedantic! You’ve got to sound natural.” There’s this one Beatles song I can’t remember the name of, but it starts with this weird, chunky drum beat: DUM-da-daa-DUM–daaa—daa-DUM-da-daa-DUM–daaa—daa It almost sounds like 8/8 but the last two beats are noticably off. Then there’s Tom Waits, who on some songs uses a method that might best be described as structured noise. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great stuff, but damned if I can figure out what the signature is, or if he even cares about such things. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/44 "2005-04-13T18:38:21Z")
I seem to recall Michael Kamen saying in an interview about the S&M album that Metallica constantly switches time signatures without even noticing, and it was the hardest part for the orchestra to deal with. But I can barely recognize a 4/4, so I don’t have specifics. And I don’t know if it’s an odd time signature, or just weird syncopation, but I can never succefully clap along with the clapping parts of Ring out Solstice Bells by Jethro Tull. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/45 "2005-04-13T18:54:35Z")
> [@Tygr](#): > > Could anyone here tell me what the time sig is on Dave Matthews’ “Satellite”? Sounds like 5/4 to me. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/46 "2005-04-13T18:56:45Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Sounds like 5/4 to me. I was thinking that the verse sounds 6/4 to me. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/47 "2005-04-13T18:59:08Z")
I opened the thread specifically thinking about Soundgarden, too. Soundgarden wrote in 7/8 a lot, and a lot of other freaky times as well. The opening riff from “Spoonman” is the 7/8 is the one that immediately comes to mind, and I think “Jesus Christ Pose” goes back and forth between 7/8 and 9/8. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/48 "2005-04-13T19:00:41Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > [Dave Matthews Band’s "Satellite] [s]ounds like 5/4 to me. Actually, now that I replay the song in my head, maybe not. I hear some triplets in there. Gonna have to call for backup from some doper with more musical wisdom than I possess. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/49 "2005-04-13T19:01:44Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > I was thinking that the verse sounds 6/4 to me. 12/8, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![doomraisin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@doomraisin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomraisin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/50 "2005-04-13T19:02:01Z")
Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” has sections in 7/4. And that was a disco hit. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/51 "2005-04-13T19:19:41Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > And I don’t know if it’s an odd time signature, or just weird syncopation, but I can never succefully clap along with the clapping parts of Ring out Solstice Bells by Jethro Tull. It’s 7/4, and even acknowledges the fact in the lyrics: _Seven druids dance in seven time_ ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/52 "2005-04-13T19:25:09Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > There’s this one Beatles song I can’t remember the name of, but it starts with this weird, chunky drum beat: DUM-da-daa-DUM–daaa—daa-DUM-da-daa-DUM–daaa—daa > > It almost sounds like 8/8 but the last two beats are noticably off. “Ticket to Ride,” by any chance? It’s just 4/4, but Ringo plays a genius drum part with a strong “dragging” feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/53 "2005-04-13T19:35:11Z")
Allman Brothers do it in Whipping Post. They go from 6/8 to 5/8 by alternating 2+3 and 3+2. Some artists like to fool you when they go into 6 time. Sometimes they accent on the 1st and 4th (DAdadaDAdada), then switch to 1st, 3rd and 5th (like DAdaDAdaDA). To answer an earlier question, DMB’s Satellite starts off in an 8 time. It tricks you by starting off with a 1 beat pickup then a 7 beat phrase. [sub]DAda[/sub]DAdaDAdaDAdaDAdaDAdaDAdaDAda Then it changes to 6 time. It keeps the 8 time rhythm pattern then shaves of a couple of beats. [sub]DAda[/sub]DAdaDAdaDAdaDAdaDAda Then it switches to straight up 6 time. DAdada DAdada. Isn’t that fun? 5 time is sometimes a 6 time subtracting a beat. Has the same feel as 6 time but breaks the continuity. 5 time can also be a 4 time adding a beat. 15 time isn’t really that complicated. It’s four measures of 4 subtracting a beat. That’s how blues usually does it. Some songs have a beat that goes 3+3+3+3+2+2. Sounds odd at first, but it really adds up to 4 time. ---
**Author:** ![Boldface\_Type](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@Boldface\_Type](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boldface_Type)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/54 "2005-04-13T19:40:09Z")
Pretty much anything by the Mahavishnu Orchestra is in some bizarre time signature or other: 7/4, 9/8, 10/8, 11/9, 113/71,… Oscar Noriega’s Play Party also use some unusual time signatures on the _Luciano’s Dream_ album. E.g., ‘7 of 9’ is in 7/9 (and has nothing to do with large-breasted Star Trek characters in tight clothing, alas). ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/55 "2005-04-13T21:50:05Z")
I guess I took the “pop” part of the OP too literally. If we’re wading into other (non-pop) music, then I guess I’d have to say, **“pretty much my entire music collection”**. 😃 I would be writing for days to list every song I own which qualifies. As my tastes are heavy on prog metal and fusion jazz, most of my favorite music is NOT in 4/4 or 3/4. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/56 "2005-04-13T23:18:08Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > You mean the opening theme? That’s a cycle of three measures of 7/8 followed by a measure of 9/8; rinse and repeat and repeat and repeat… Same song but the sheet music arrangement of “Tubular Bells” I saw was 4/4 and 5/4. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/57 "2005-04-13T23:43:39Z")
> [@Nekosoft](#): > > Isn’t Peter Gabriel’s **Solsbury Hill** in 7/4 as well? With two bars of 4/4 at the end of each chorus: “Hey, I said, you can keep my things, they’ve come to take me home.” Note that Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) liked odd meters. He often used 3-3-2, which is usually notated in 4/4 (or 8/8) but should be 3/8 + 3/8 + 2/8. ---
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/58 "2005-04-13T23:52:13Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > The Pretenders’ “Tattooed Love Boys” is in some goofy meter – guitarist James Honeyman-Scott’s guess was 7/13. Just to chime in and say that there is no such thing as 7/13. Hopefully, he was joking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/59 "2005-04-14T02:18:28Z")
**The Turtles’ “Grim Reaper Of Love”** changes from 5/4 time to 6/8 time (chorus and instrumental). They recorded this song as the follow up to “Happy Together” in an effort to show they could be serious musicians and not just purveyors of pop. Needless to say, the song bombed and it’s probably the reason you have _never_ heard of it. Oh, and they immediately went back to their usual fun time pop style. It has been stated that 3/4 time is not considered an unusual meter. However, **Paul Revere and the Raiders’ “Louie Go Home”** goes from a strong 4/4 beat to an instrumental in 3/4 time and then changes back dramatically to 4/4 time for the last verse. Considering that this was recorded around 1964, it was very unusual for its time. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052/60 "2005-04-14T03:35:35Z")
> [@Club 33](#): > > Just to chime in and say that there is no such thing as 7/13. Hopefully, he was joking. 🙂 I figured as much. But I was hoping someone might be able to chime in with the actual meter. Anyone? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-with-unusual-meters/299052.md?page=4)