[drumtech]

Originally Posted by VDrum

First of all, thank drumtech for helping me out. My answer is 2 and a half notes per measure. I now understand what time signature means and how to count but I just dont know how to play it with drum because you have to use both hands! Could you plz explain more about playing with drum? Ill appreciate that!
Thank you.

I am going to give you a simple answer. Understand that my instructions are for someone right handed (I was blessed with being ambidextrous).

All of this will be in 4/4:

In 4/4 - 4 beats / measure and the quarter note receiving the beat there will be what is called UP Beats and DOWN Beats, in the case of 4/4 think of them (in the beginning) as UP = Odd and DOWN = Even.
Or, 1 & 3 are the Up Beats (usually on Bass Drum) and 2 & 4 Down Beats (usually on snare).

With the Right Hand (slowly), beat all four beats on a cymbal or hi-hat - get used to the feel.
Now add the Bass Drum on 1 & 3, while keeping the 4 beat time on the cymbal - get used to the feel.
Now add the Snare on beats 2 & 4 while keeping the 4 beat time on the cymbal and the bass drum on 1 & 3. Slowly at first, get used to the feel or muscle memory.

Once you have the hang of this pattern, you will be ready to go an eighth note pattern with the Right Hand, but don't make yourself crazy - it will come with practice.

Good Luck!

[VDrum]

I just tried to play it. Its so hard but i will get through it. Thank you very much drumtech!

[map]

Originally Posted by butter

Ever think about odd denominator time signatures? Like 4/5? It can be done... Irrational meters are crazy. We could get into polyrhythms, too.

If you want to experiment with polyrhythms within complicated time signatures a fun excercise to do is to get a couple of friends on gtar and bass and all of you play different time signatures that match up at the end of a certain amount of bars. Example, If drums are playing in 7/4 and the guitarist is playing in 3/8 the drummer would have to play 3 bars to match the guitarists 14 bars. You can make it a bit more complicated by getting your 3rd friend and having them play 4/8 to match the other 2 every 21 bars. This will probably have you pulling your hair out but is pretty cool to be able to do.

Having an odd denominator time signture would be pretty pointless. 4/5 for example would basically be playing in quintuplet crochets in 4/4.

[butter]

Originally Posted by map

If you want to experiment with polyrhythms within complicated time signatures a fun excercise to do is to get a couple of friends on gtar and bass and all of you play different time signatures that match up at the end of a certain amount of bars. Example, If drums are playing in 7/4 and the guitarist is playing in 3/8 the drummer would have to play 3 bars to match the guitarists 14 bars. You can make it a bit more complicated by getting your 3rd friend and having them play 4/8 to match the other 2 every 21 bars. This will probably have you pulling your hair out but is pretty cool to be able to do.

My band actually just started working on a song in 15/8 in which I play 5 measures of 6/8 for every 2 measures the guitarist plays. We haven't written a bass part yet, but the bassist may go with another different sig. I haven't finished writing my part either, but I have decided the signature

Originally Posted by map

Having an odd denominator time signture would be pretty pointless. 4/5 for example would basically be playing in quintuplet crochets in 4/4.

I realize that, but I wonder if I will ever see anything written this way. It's totally inefficient If I ever wrote something in 4/5, it would be to mess with someone.

[Gus]

Originally Posted by Tainojim

5/4, love that jazz.

Are you talking about Take 5?

[Tainojim]

Originally Posted by Gus

Are you talking about Take 5?

Yeah a 5/4 pint.