Matt Byrne: Fun With Odd Meters

• By Matt Byrne
• Originally published in the September 2005 issue of DRUM! Magazine

Let’s mess around with some odd-time signatures (everything doesn’t have to be in straight 4/4 time). Sure, the brain may understand it a little faster and it’s a little easier to bang your head to, but for a drummer … it’s just not as much fun! Here are some examples of beats in the time signatures of 5/4 and 7/4. They are both between the hi-hat or ride cymbal, bass drum, and snare. Start them out slow until you get the meter down and find the pocket. Rock on!