A Comprehensive Guide to Playing Odd Time Signatures on the Drum Set

Odd time signatures can be intimidating, but they can also be incredibly musical and expressive when played well. They can add a sense of excitement, surprise, and rhythmic complexity to your drumming, and they can also help you develop your independence and coordination.

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about playing odd time signatures on the drum set, from the basics of counting and subdividing to more advanced techniques like polyrhythms and metric modulations.

Counting and Subdividing in Odd Time Signatures

The first step to playing odd time signatures is to learn how to count and subdivide them correctly. Odd time signatures are typically written as a fraction, such as 5/4, 7/8, or 9/16. The top number of the fraction indicates the number of beats in the measure, and the bottom number indicates the type of note that gets one beat.

For example, in 5/4 time, there are five beats in each measure, and each beat is a quarter note. This means that you would count "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" for each measure of 5/4 time.

Once you can count the time signature correctly, the next step is to learn how to subdivide it. Subdividing means breaking down each beat into smaller parts, such as eighth notes or sixteenth notes. This will help you to play more complex rhythms and fills in odd time signatures.

To subdivide a beat, simply divide it into two or four equal parts. For example, to subdivide a quarter note into eighth notes, you would count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and." To subdivide a quarter note into sixteenth notes, you would count "1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a."

Basic Odd Time Signature Patterns

Once you can count and subdivide odd time signatures, you can start to learn some basic patterns. Here are a few common odd time signature patterns to get you started:

• 5/4: 1 2 3 4 5
• 7/8: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• 9/16: 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a
• 11/8: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
• 13/16: 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a 5 e and a 6 e and a 7 e and a

These are just a few examples of odd time signature patterns. There are many other possibilities, so experiment and find what sounds good to you.

Advanced Techniques

Once you have mastered the basics of odd time signatures, you can start to explore more advanced techniques, such as polyrhythms and metric modulations.

Polyrhythms are two or more rhythms that are played simultaneously. They can be used to create complex and interesting rhythmic patterns. For example, you could play a 3/4 rhythm on the hi-hat and a 5/4 rhythm on the snare drum.

Metric modulations are changes in time signature within a piece of music. They can be used to create a sense of surprise and excitement, and they can also help to develop your musicality.

To learn more about polyrhythms and metric modulations, I recommend checking out the following resources:

• Polyrhythms for the Drum Set by John Riley
• Metric Modulations for Jazz Drummers by Dave Samuels

Tips for Playing Odd Time Signatures

Here are a few tips to help you play odd time signatures more effectively:

• Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.
• Use a metronome to help you stay on time.
• Subdivide the beat into smaller parts to make it easier to play complex rhythms.
• Practice regularly to develop your independence and coordination.
• Listen to recordings of drummers who play odd time signatures.

Playing odd time signatures on the drum set can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. It can help you to develop your independence, coordination, and musicality. I encourage you to experiment with odd time signatures and see what you can create.

Thanks for reading!