What time signature is this?

[Carl Hillman]

I think you are probably right. Attached is a sample of just the guitar if you want to take a listen.

Figuring this out isn't necessary. I'm just kind of curious for my own learning. Thanks!

I'd think of it as 2 bars of 6/8 and a bar of 9/8.

 

[ryco]

It actually does repeat halfway through. Seven bars of 3/4, then the same seven bars repeated.
The individual seven-bar phrases break down as three bars plus four bars. So, 3 + 4 + 3 + 4.

OK, I see what you're saying; and yes it does repeat completely 2x through before the vocal.
It just has that lilt/pulse that feels 6/8; but you are right = the phrase bars don't count out right in 6/8.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Seven bars of 3/4, then the same seven bars repeated.
The individual seven-bar phrases break down as three bars plus four bars. So, 3 + 4 + 3 + 4.

It would not be my "preferred" time signature of 3/4.

 

[ryco]

It just has that lilt/pulse that feels 6/8; but you are right = the phrase bars don't count out right in 6/8.

Listening again with fresh ears in the morn it feels like 6/8, and the phrase does count out right.
It has that "swing" to it.
I can see how some can count it out as 3/4 or even 2/4. That's the the fun and beauty of the malleable duple meter. ☮

 

[Richard Lindsey]

It would not be my "preferred" time signature of 3/4.

Yes, it would, because I'm not talking about the time sig, I'm talking about how those seven-bar blocks are subdivided. It's all 3/4. You have three bars of 3/4, then four bars of 3/4, and then the thing repeats: another three bars of 3/4, and finally four more bars of 3/4.

 

[Groove Master]

To me it doesn't feel like a 3/4 but really a 6/8. To read and feel this groove it would make more sense.

 

[hbarcat]

It's 6/8 time, repeated after 7 bars.

Try it. Count out loud while listening to the sound clip. It moves pretty fast.




(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6
(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6

 

[Les Fret]

It's 6/8 time, repeated after 7 bars.

Try it. Count out loud while listening to the sound clip. It moves pretty fast.




(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6
(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6

Yes that’s it! That’s 100% correct for sure

 

[bassistkll]

Does the songwriter not know?

 

[Richard Lindsey]

It's 6/8 time, repeated after 7 bars.

Try it. Count out loud while listening to the sound clip. It moves pretty fast.




(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6
(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6

Doesn't sound like it to me. The reason is that 6/8 typically has two main beats in a measure, whereas 3/4 has three. To me, this pretty clearly has three main beats per measure for the most part, with a strong emphasis on the 1. Though a couple of the measures hint at 6/8. Still, that's not uncommon--I mean occasionally suggesting a 2-over-3 feel in something that's basically in 3.

 

[hbarcat]

Doesn't sound like it to me. The reason is that 6/8 typically has two main beats in a measure, whereas 3/4 has three. To me, this pretty clearly has three main beats per measure for the most part, with a strong emphasis on the 1. Though a couple of the measures hint at 6/8. Still, that's not uncommon--I mean occasionally suggesting a 2-over-3 feel in something that's basically in 3.

It's definitely 6/8.

You can hear your "two main beats in a measure" in this 6/8 time signature because it automatically provides a 2/4 counterpoint beat.

Try emphasizing the 1 and 4 of every measure (1 - and - ah - 2 - and - ah).

Like this:

1 2 3 4 5 6
2 2 3 4 5 6
3 2 3 4 5 6
4 2 3 4 5 6
5 2 3 4 5 6
6 2 3 4 5 6
7 2 3 4 5 6

 

[prowla]

I found counting 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-... matched it best.

 

[Snipehunter]

Does the songwriter not know?

No. He doesn’t even think of such things. I need to ask the drummer what he thinks. I’ve been getting by counting in 3/4 though I know it doesn’t mean it’s right.

I love all the discussion and will experiment with some of these suggestions.

 

[Groove Master]

It's 6/8 time, repeated after 7 bars.

Try it. Count out loud while listening to the sound clip. It moves pretty fast.




(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6
(1) 2 3 4 5 6
(2) 2 3 4 5 6
(3) 2 3 4 5 6
(4) 2 3 4 5 6
(5) 2 3 4 5 6
(6) 2 3 4 5 6
(7) 2 3 4 5 6

I think you are counting the subdivisions twice too fast. It should be 3 bars of 6/8 and an extra 3/8 than repeat .

 

[hbarcat]

I think you are counting the subdivisions twice too fast. It should be 3 bars of 6/8 and an extra 3/8 than repeat .

The timing doesn't work out that way, but it works perfectly at 7 bars of 6/8.

Admittedly, it's really fast at 6/8, but making ⅛ notes worth a count is the most practical way to write the notation.

I'm willing to consider other possibilities for time signature, but I have a lot of experience playing - and writing - songs in odd time signatures and in complex time and polyrhythms.

Just going by the basic sound clip provided, I stand by my original assessment.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

It's definitely 6/8.

You can hear your "two main beats in a measure" in this 6/8 time signature because it automatically provides a 2/4 counterpoint beat.

Try emphasizing the 1 and 4 of every measure (1 - and - ah - 2 - and - ah).

Like this:

1 2 3 4 5 6
2 2 3 4 5 6
3 2 3 4 5 6
4 2 3 4 5 6
5 2 3 4 5 6
6 2 3 4 5 6
7 2 3 4 5 6

Definitely not to my ears. I'm pretty familiar with 6/8, having played a great deal of it in my day, and that doesn't sound like the best way of counting this. There aren't two main beats in these measures for the most part, though a couple measures hint at a temporary superposition of two over three. I hear the beats basically where Groove Master does, except that he prefers /8 in 4-measure units of 6/8, 6/8, 6/8, and 3/8, whereas I prefer 7-measure units of 3/4, in part (but not entirely) to avoid the necessity of changing time signatures.

I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree. In any case, I hope the OP is getting what they need!

 

[hbarcat]

This might be useful.

 

[Groove Master]

I've been on bandstands all my life sight-reading over 50 charts a day and at play time if I read 6/8 for that kind of music I'll understand what it means but if I read a 3/4 then I'll have no clues regarding the groove.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

I'll have no clues regarding the groove.

I would!

 

[Groove Master]

I would!

I'm talking about the first glimpse at the chart before even hearing the count ;-)

Charts are only an indicator for the musicians about the music to play or interpret in the most easier and logical way for us. I still think that a 6/8 would be appropriate even if the same music could be written in 3/4 as well. Some might prefer one way more than the other.