Confusion regarding odd time signatures

[TOOL460002]

Completely depends on the piece/context. Like something can be 4/4 but make more sense as 3+3+2/8. Tool's "Die Eier Von Satan" is in groups of 9, but it makes more sense as counting it 1 2 3 4 and 1 2 3 4.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I went to a clinic with Chester Thompson in the ‘80s. The one thing I clearly remember him saying was “About meter… there’s 2, and there’s 3. That’s all I’m going to say about meter.”

Chester gets it.

Saying something is, for example, "in 17/16" tells you nothing about the accent, stress, and rhythmic subdivision.
Saying it is "2+2+2+2+3+2+2+2" tells you everything you need to know about the accent, stress, and rhythmic subdivision...and, if you're handy with a calculator, about the meter, for whatever that's worth.

 

[Malcolm35]

Most of the time it is sets of 2's and or 3's. Ask the drummer what they will use.