Free Drum Lessons
Advertisement

Welcome Guest! You can read, browse, and search the forums. Register for free to join our community and enable posting. Current members can Log-In here.

 Forum Rules Forum Rules - Please Read Before Posting
 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
Time signatures, I'm confused...
fnovus
post Nov 7 2009, 02:24 PM
Post #1


Sergeant
Joined: 14-December 08
Drum Set: Other
Cymbals: Sabian
Posts: 359
I've recently started incorporating "strange" time signatures into my music and I've been wondering what the differences would be between something played in 4/4, 4/8, 8/4 and 8/8 time, for example. Say I'm playing the basic rock beat at 90 BPM, would the overall tempo I'm playing it at be affected by the time signature?

This post has been edited by fnovus: Nov 7 2009, 02:31 PM
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
megabert
post Nov 7 2009, 03:03 PM
Post #2


Lieutenant
Joined: 15-December 08
From: Oklahoma, USA
Drum Set: Drum Workshop
Cymbals: Sabian
Posts: 433
All the time signatures you mentioned are in a basic four. The main use of the time signature for a drummer is in finding the beat. 3/4 will not have a 4/4 beat, and neither will 6/8. There are other time signatures, too, but almost anything in a 4 or 8 time will have a basic four beat.


--------------------
For every fifty words I type, I have to correct twelve typos. I corrected thirteen typing this.

I don't actually have the set or cymbals that I want. I just put my favorites.
Been around for a whole year, and still lovin' it! This place gets better every day!!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
fnovus
post Nov 7 2009, 03:10 PM
Post #3


Sergeant
Joined: 14-December 08
Drum Set: Other
Cymbals: Sabian
Posts: 359
So is the only thing that's affected the amount of beats per bar? Or does the second/bottom number affect anything?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
megabert
post Nov 7 2009, 03:28 PM
Post #4


Lieutenant
Joined: 15-December 08
From: Oklahoma, USA
Drum Set: Drum Workshop
Cymbals: Sabian
Posts: 433
The second number affects which note when written gets the beat. 4 means quarter note, 2 means half note, 8 means 8th note, and so on. The first note is the important one unless you're playing sheet music, then it helps to know what the second one means, too.


--------------------
For every fifty words I type, I have to correct twelve typos. I corrected thirteen typing this.

I don't actually have the set or cymbals that I want. I just put my favorites.
Been around for a whole year, and still lovin' it! This place gets better every day!!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
aL3X119
post Nov 7 2009, 10:53 PM
Post #5


Lieutenant
Joined: 2-November 09
Drum Set: Tama
Cymbals: Paiste
Posts: 403
The quarter note is the count in 4/4, 6/4, etc. so the overall speed doesn't change, the only thing that changes is length of each bar. The bottom number gets the count. So in 6/8, you would count to eight. In 3/4, you would
count to four. The way I learned them was like if the time was 7/8, seven eighth notes are in a bar, instead of eight.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
fnovus
post Nov 8 2009, 02:11 AM
Post #6


Sergeant
Joined: 14-December 08
Drum Set: Other
Cymbals: Sabian
Posts: 359
I see. Thanks a lot for the explanations.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Vasheir
post Nov 8 2009, 07:06 AM
Post #7


Major
Joined: 31-August 09
From: TX, USA
Posts: 1,091
QUOTE (aL3X119 @ Nov 7 2009, 11:53 PM) *
So in 6/8, you would count to eight. In 3/4, you would count to four.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you count to 6 in 6/8 and 3 in 3/4?


--------------------

My Drumming Portfolio | Youtube Channel | Photobucket Album(s) | (Future Band Link)
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Poco Askew
post Nov 8 2009, 07:27 AM
Post #8


Moderator Classic
Joined: 23-March 08
From: State of Confusion
Drum Set: Mapex
Cymbals: Zildjian
Posts: 15,617
QUOTE (Vasheir @ Nov 8 2009, 06:06 AM) *
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you count to 6 in 6/8 and 3 in 3/4?

You are correct sir.
The SECOND number tells you WHAT to count. The FIRST number tells you HOW MANY to count in a measure.


--------------------
.

Come over to the Dark Side. We have cookies.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
aL3X119
post Nov 8 2009, 10:40 AM
Post #9


Lieutenant
Joined: 2-November 09
Drum Set: Tama
Cymbals: Paiste
Posts: 403
QUOTE (Vasheir @ Nov 8 2009, 08:06 AM) *
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you count to 6 in 6/8 and 3 in 3/4?

Oh yeah, you are right, sorry, wasn't thinking. Thanks!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
fnovus
post Nov 8 2009, 12:17 PM
Post #10


Sergeant
Joined: 14-December 08
Drum Set: Other
Cymbals: Sabian
Posts: 359
Heh, I just noticed that. I payed more attention to the last sentence.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic

 

Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 3rd September 2010 - 04:18 AM
Powered By IP.Board © 2010  IPS, Inc.
Terms Of Use  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us  |  Drum Forums  |  Drum Lessons  |  Piano Lessons
FreeDrumLessons.com - Copyright © 2007-2009 Railroad Media, Inc. - All Rights Reserved