Writing in Crazy Signatures

[Zako]

Hey first off sorry if this is in the wrong section, i didnt know where else to put

Anyway Im in a fast punk/hardcore band, but me being the bass player write all the songs.
I write them on guitar because of decent enough to play hardcore.
And because so i can hear how it sounds on guitar before i try to teach my guitarist.

Im just glad i have an awesome drummer because everything im writing recently is turning out in Odd times.

Like most hardcore bands write in 4/4 and stick to it, but im just writing what comes naturally and what seems easy to keep time to me but not always every one else haha.

Most of it is in 4/4, some 3/4 and 6/4, but had some doozies with our drummer with 11/8
and some riffs where half of it is in 4/4 and the other half 5/4.... like who does that? I guess i do, not on purpose it just comes naturally, whatever sounds cool to me basically.

Anyone else like this or have someone in there band that just ignores time signatures like i do?

[tippr34]

Check out progressive metal/rock bands. They do that a lot.

Between the Buried and Me, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Tool, Opeth, ect

[Zombbg4]

It happens sometimes when I'm practicing/ "exploring" melodies ect... The key is to not make it sound like an odd time sig, yet still give off the groove of it not being normal. I love Victor Wootens writing as most of it is in strange times, though its not noticable to average listeners.

[Zako]

Yeah i know bands do that, im a big fan of between the buried and me.

But my point is im in a punk/hardcore band where other than 4/4 doesnt happen that often.

[jmattbassplaya]

That sounds like myself and one of my friends who plays guitar. We write in some really odd stuff because it just works for us. It`s kinda cool though because when we record the stuff or write it out in GP it looks funny as heck, but when we play it back you can hardly tell it`s in a weird signature because we keep the groove tight.

[hellfleet]

Originally Posted by Zako

Yeah i know bands do that, im a big fan of between the buried and me.

But my point is im in a punk/hardcore band where other than 4/4 doesnt happen that often.

I think lots of modern 'punk' got really technical these days. I know a bunch of guys that play really punky stuff, ie. the look, the lyrics, even the style of the guitars and vocals but in terms of time sigs its crazy. Sometimes its blending with metal and more punk-rock. Its not really my genre but some of the stops can be quite crazy.

[ParadigmBass]

You should check out my band, Paradigm. Not one song in 4/4.

[Hyperfreak]

I think writing in alternate time signatures for the sake thereof is really silly. A song doesn't need to be in other sigs to be good.

That said, it looks like most people on here appreciate it because it comes naturally to them and allows the music to flow freely. To those people, amen! You're in my boat =D

Write what comes to mind, don't restrain yourself. Some people are just conditioned to 4/4 and that's how they think. Let that be, be yourself =)

[Hyperfreak]

I should also note. DT, Tool, SX and Opeth are among my top ten favorite bands =P