Producing in Different Time Signatures Explained
Are you getting tired of good ol' 4/4 meter? Well, you've come to the right place. In this music meter video course, veteran Groove3 instructor Gary Hiebner presents a master class in time signatures and how to produce songs that step off the beaten path. Not only will you grasp the concepts of rhythmic theory, such as "4/4," "7/8," and so on, but you'll also discover the diverse ways in which you can employ these time signatures to create sophisticated rhythms and keep the listener engaged. By the end of the course, you'll have mastered all things meter and will be ready to start incorporating your newfound knowledge in your very next production.
Videos
• Introduction (01:06) - We start off by giving a short explanation on what's going to be covered in this video series. First, we discuss what a 4/4 time signature is and how we're going to change it to other time signatures to add interest to our songs and productions.
• Explaining Bars, Beats & 4/4 (04:39) - In this video, we explain bars, beats, and a 4/4 standard time signature. You'll see how these are displayed in a DAW, and we'll also program a quick 4/4 drum beat so you can hear what that sounds like.
• Rhythm & Chords (04:49) - Here, we look at how the types of rhythm and chords used have a big bearing on the time signature, as they help to determine the pace and feel of the music. In this video, you see examples of how the feel changes when the rhythm and chords change. Plus, we start looking at changing a 4/4 meter to a 3/4 meter.
• Writing a 3/4 Time Signature (07:02) - Learn how to take a 4/4 part and change it to 3/4. First, we'll remove one of the quarter beats and then change the chord progression so it resolves more smoothly. You'll start seeing how note length can play a big part in when time signatures change.
• Creating a 5/4 Time Signature (06:40) - Here, we take a look at a composition that's in 5/4. You'll see how to build up a rhythm that fits over the 5/4 meter and the chord progression that goes over it. You'll also see how the composition would differ if it were in 4/4 so you can hear the difference in the feel.
• 5/4 Grouping Options (05:37) - Discover different ways you can group notes together to form a 5/4 measure. First, you'll see how note length plays a part in creating a 5/4 groove. We use four notes but combine quarter note and dotted quarter notes to get a 5/4 rhythm.
• 6/4 Grouping Options (06:28) - Here we look at different ways you can build up a 6/4 rhythm. You can either use six evenly spaced notes or a combination of two different note lengths that fit within the 6/4 measure. You also hear the difference between the two options and how it changes the feel of the piece.
• Building a 6/8 Pattern (05:25) - Learn the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 and see how 6/8 is based off eighth notes instead of quarter notes. It also comes down to the grouping that gives 6/8 its feel and pace.
• 7/4: A Popular Complex Meter (10:31) - Here, we start looking at how you can combine two meters to give you a complex meter, such as 7/4, which essentially combines 4/4 and 3/4. In this video, we explore the different grouping options we have with this complex meter.
• Other Accents in 7 (04:53) - Adding accents to instruments really helps to define the time signature and meter. In this video, you see how we can use different instruments to create accents in 7/8. For example, we can use cymbal hits to define the different groupings in 7/8.
• Standard Meters with Complex Meters (09:12) - Learn how we can use multiple meters together in a song. For example, we can use a standard 4/4 meter and then throw in 7/4. Making these meter changes in your composition can help draw in the listener to maintain interest.
• Combining Meters to Create a Polymeter (06:58) - Here, we look at how you can combine different meters together to create a polymeter. In other words, some instruments in the composition will play in one time signature, while the rest of the instruments play in another. The effect can be quite striking.
• More Complex Meters (05:36) - Next, we examine the more complex odd meter of 13/8. We start off by programming a beat over this time signature using the downbeats and upbeats of the measure, taking into account the different type of grouping options you can use. From there, we expand to the other instruments in the composition and see how they can play along to the 13/8 drum beat.
• Arranging a 15/8 Meter (08:10) - In this video, we look at a 15/8 time signature, beginning by writing the melody first using a 7-8 grouping. Then we see how to use the rest of the instruments to accent the changes in the grouping.
• Guess the Meter (08:27) - It's time to have a little fun! We play back a song, and you have to guess the time signature used. There is a catch, though, so see if you can pick it up! After we reveal the meter, we demonstrate how we constructed it and how the "catch" adds extra interest. We also show how the drums aren't actually the main instrument generating the pace, but rather other instruments in the song.
• Using Multiple Time Signatures Over a Duration (07:12) - Discover how you can use multiple time signatures together over a duration several bars - six bars in our case. What's interesting is that, if you add up all these time signatures used, they add up to six bars. This means that, after the six bars, the whole piece cycles back again.
• Creating & Playing PolyRhythms (10:53) - In this video, we go over the difference between a polymeter and a polyrhythm and then show how to create your own polyrhythm using a combination of 4s and 3s. We then examine the instruments to see which play in patterns of 4 and which play in patterns of 3. You'll also learn the difference between a 4 over 3 polyrhythm and a 3 over 4 polyrhythm.