the ultimate time signature

Added: 2026-05-03

[00:00:00]1 2 3 4 5 6 7. It's tragically uncommon, but there are some songs where you count to seven. This is known as 74 time, and it can sound pretty neat. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.

[00:00:12]This is an uneven number and can sound kind of trippy. But there are some tricks and ways to make a 74 feel good.

[00:00:17]Let's look at some ways and examples of 74 songs. But first, let's move to four four time for a harsh way to make songs in seven.

[00:00:25]So 1 2 3 4. So this is four bits time.

[00:00:28]the most common time signature. If we take two bars of this, we get eight.

[00:00:32]What if you would simply cut the last one off?

[00:00:36]1 2 3 4 5 6 7. We get 74, but it's a bit abrupt because it sounds as if it's interrupted. 5 6 7 But it's also cool.

[00:00:46]We actually hear something like this in a Beatles song. Here's a version in four beats time.

[00:00:52]1 2 3 4. But in the song, it actually goes like this.

[00:01:00]1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Another cool song that does this technique is by the Foo Fighters.

[00:01:12]1 2 3 4 5 6 7. It also has a fill on every seventh beat which we can call the roll technique. By putting some type of roll sound on the seventh beat, the 74 can feel more intentional.

[00:01:26]It sort of hides that stumbling feel and carries us back to the new bar.

[00:01:33]Trippier rhythms. It might sound counterintuitive, but a trippy rhythm can actually help sell the 74 groove. So instead of this, put some between the bits and play with the note lengths.

[00:01:49]This is utilized in the theme song of the game Batro.

[00:01:56]It just flows regardless of the seven four 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 making full use of its seven beats. Another example is a Super Metroid's boss theme which has a simple yet trippy rhythm of long long short.

[00:02:13]1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1.

[00:02:18]Now splitting up the bars. 74 can be easier felt if you split it up. This right now has a 3 + 4 feel. Try counting. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4. But songs in seven can also be 4 + 3. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3.

[00:02:35]And it's rare, but you can even find 2 + 3 + 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2. A good song on this subject is C48's Hagstrom. It has a clear 3 plus 4 feel.

[00:02:53]1 2 3 1 2 3 4 swing. Just because we're in 74 doesn't mean we can't use other techniques. One classic is swing. It's when we have delayed eighth notes. No swing and swinged.

[00:03:09]And we can use that in 7 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1. This is actually done in the most famous 74 song of all.

[00:03:22]Money by Pink Floyd. Now listen without swing.

[00:03:30]The whole groove is lost. Let's go over a trick to make some 74 house music. But first, try to find the one hidden bar of 64 while I talk about the piano. This video is sponsored by Flow, the piano learning platform. Piano skills are so good to have regardless of what music interests you and Flow Key provides lessons with recognizable songs and it's also tons of fun. Sheet music, finger positioning. Check it out with this QR code. All you need to start your piano journey journey. Now trippy rhythm the roll to create some seven or house music. The easiest way is to scrap the snare. When you only got a kick, it doesn't really matter where the bar loops. You just keep it going over and over.

[00:04:08]1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Maybe it's on swing.