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Some examples of Musical Composition s or Piece s in Western Music which have Irregular Time Signatures , listed by signature and year released, are:


5/4 OR 5/8

''also known as "quintuple meter" ''


Partially in 5/4 or 5/8

  • (1942) Second movement of Sonata For Clarinet And Piano by Leonard Bernstein

  • (1967) " Within You Without You " by The Beatles - the sitar solo in the middle of the song is in 5/8; some parts of the verses are in 5/4

  • (1968) " White Room " by Cream (intro in 5/4 with the drums playing the Mars rhythm reversed, most of song in 4/4- intro repeated later as a bridge)

  • (1970) "Don't Let Me Down" by The Beatles opening line

  • (1971) "Four Sticks" by Led Zeppelin (verse)

  • (1971) "Heart of the Sunrise" by Yes

  • (1972) "Trilogy" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer (middle section in 5/4, other sections in 2/4, 4/4 and 6/4)

  • (1973) "Dreamer" (closing fade on glockenspiel) Supertramp

  • (1974) "Rock The Boat" by Hues Corporation (pre-chorus only)

  • (1975) "Song for America" by Kansas (Chorus)

  • (1980) "YYZ" by Rush - (Intro)

  • (1980) "The Camera Eye" by Rush - (Verses)

  • (1981) "Discipline" by King Crimson (along with various other meters)

  • (1982) "Heat of the Moment" by Asia (Chorus and bridge are in 4/4, all other parts are in 5/4)

  • (1984) "Kid Gloves" by Rush

  • (1986) "Master of Puppets" by Metallica (Verse riff is a bar of 4/4, followed by a bar of 5/8)

  • (1987) "That Time of the Night" by Marillion

  • (1989) "Burn Your House Brown" by Cardiacs - has sections in 5/4

  • (1989) "Easter" by Marillion (final part)

  • (1989) "Zombie Eaters" by Faith No More - has sections in 3/4, 5/8 and 4/4

  • (1991) "Nosferatu Man" by Slint - mostly 5/4, contains instrumental sections in 6/4

  • (1991) "Slowly Growing Deaf" by Mr. Bungle

  • (1991) "Innuendo" by Queen (limited to the guitar solos in the middle of the song)

  • (1991) "John the Fisherman" by Primus uses the 5/4 intro from Rush's YYZ.

  • (1992) "New World" by Soul Asylum album Grave Dancer's Union verses in 5/4, choruses in 6/4

  • (1993) " My Name Is Mud " by Primus (bridge pause section has 2 measures of 5/4)

  • (1994) "5-4=Unity" by Pavement - Three measures in 5/4, one measure in 6/8.

  • (1994) "Last Exit" by Pearl Jam (all but chorus)

  • (1996) "Eat It Up Worms Hero" by Cardiacs - introductory section is in 5/4

  • (1997) "Let Down" by Radiohead - during verse, keyboard and guitar play 5/4 Ostinato while rest of band play in 4/4

  • (1998) "Fake Frowns" by verses in 5/4, choruses in 6/4

  • (1998) "Rapunzel" by Dave Matthews Band - instrumentals in 5/4

  • (2000) "Dark & Grey" by Kid Rock (outro)

  • (2001) "5/4" by Gorillaz - much like Radiohead's "Let Down", during the verse the guitar plays in 5/4, while drums and vocals remain in 4/4

  • (2001) "The Patient" by Tool

  • (2001) "Portrait" by P.O.D. (verse and instrumentals)

  • (2001) "Five Four Child Voice" by : "precocious time-signature jam".

  • (2002) "The Patient Mental" by Mudvayne (bridge)

  • (2002) "Streamline" by System Of A Down (This song is in fact a 3/4 song with 5/4 parts in intro and chorus)

  • (2003) "Something White and Sigmund" by Love Outside Andromeda - contains sections in 6/8.

  • (2003) "Meat Dreams" by I Mother Earth

  • (2003) "Nameless" (unreleased track) by Bjork

  • (2003) "Marching Band" by Sufjan Stevens (only the second half)

  • (2004) "The Great American Bottleneck" by Gavin Castleton

  • (2004) "The City Is Here For You To Use" by The Futureheads - bridge in 4/4

  • (2004) Much of the soundtrack to The Incredibles by Michael Giacchino

  • (2004) "Nevermore" by Otium - includes some sections in 4/4

  • (2004) "One Bedroom Apartment" by Clann Zu From 3:10 onwards is in 5/4

  • (2004) "The Fists of Protocol" by Gruvis Malt - chorus includes a bar of 7/4

  • (2005) "Bastard" by Ben Folds (verses and outro)

  • (2005) "Come On! Feel The Illinoise!" by Sufjan Stevens (only the first half)

  • (2005) " Will You Smile Again ?" by ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead first 1:26 and last :27 in 5/4, middle in common

  • (2005) "Five Four Overture" We Are The Music Makers Verses in 5/4, prechoruses in 3/4, choruses and bridge in 4/4.

  • (2005) "Question!" by System Of A Down (also moves into 9/8) (last solo is in 4/4)

  • (2006) "Vicarious" by Tool

  • (2006) "Rosetta Stoned" by Tool



7/4

''septuple meter''



Partially in 7/4

  • (1856) "Dante" Symphony by Franz Liszt (a section in the first movement)

  • (1895) Around this time, Alexander Scriabin started introducing 7/4 time into minor motifs, then into themes and phrases, and often played against 3/4, 3/8, 4/4, 5/4 or 6/8 in the other hand. There are hundreds of examples.

  • (1910) " The Firebird " by Igor Stravinsky (ending section)

  • (1968) " All You Need Is Love " by The Beatles (Some measures in 7/4, some in 4/4)

  • (1980) "The Wait" by The Pretenders (verses only; the rest is in 4/4)

  • (1973) "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield (4/4 + 3/4, during the intro)

  • (1973) "The Battle Of Epping Forest" by Genesis (verse in 7/4, chorus in 8/4, middle section 6/4)

  • (1975) "All the World" by Kansas . (7/4 section in instrumental break in middle of song)

  • (1978) "Curfew" by The Stranglers (verses)

  • (1981) "Wired For Sound" by Cliff Richard - the chorus works out into 7/4

  • (1981) "Limelight" by Rush - the intro riff

  • (1988) "Blackened" by Metallica (The main/bridge riff is 7/4, the verse is in 6/4)

  • (1988) "Cult Of Personality" by Living Colour (alternating measures sprinkled throughout)

  • (1991) "Breadcrumb Trail" by Slint (beginning segment)

  • (1991) "Outshined" by Soundgarden (verse and instrumentals)

  • (1994) "Spoonman" by Soundgarden (verse)

  • (1995) "Buy Me a Pony" by Spiderbait (Also contains 6/4 and 4/4)

  • (1996) "Desperately Wanting" by Better Than Ezra (4 measures of 7/4 during bridge)

  • (1996) " Forty Six & 2 " by Tool two bars in the intro, drum solo, and majority of ending

  • (1997) "Elephant Riders" by Clutch Verse is in 4/4, prechorus is in 9/4, chorus is in 7/4.

  • (1998) "Comin' Home" by HUM (verse in 7/4, chorus in 4/4, intro & bridge in 6/4)

  • (1999) "Down With The Sickness" by Disturbed (bridge)

  • (1999) "The Death of Passion" by Nevermore (The end is in 7/4)

  • (1999) "Running Board" by The Dillinger Escape Plan has a section in 7/4

  • (2001) "Automatic" by all but chorus in 7/4

  • (2001) "Carne Voodoo" by Rocket From The Crypt (opening)

  • (2001) "Nice To Know You" by Incubus (all except bridges)

  • (2002) "The Monkey Versus the Robot" by Piebald - verses in 7/4, chorus in 6/4 and the breakdown in 4/4

  • (2002) "The Sound of Muzak" by Porcupine Tree (verse and instrumental)

  • (2002) " Times Like These " by Foo Fighters (instrumental bridges only)

  • (2003) "1010011010" by Cog - contains sections in 9/4, 6/8 and common

  • (2003) "Inertiatic ESP" by The Mars Volta (bridge)

  • (2003) "Panic Attack" by Finger Eleven (verses)

  • (2004) "Builder" by Gavin Castleton

  • (2003) "Ride" by Samuel Hazo - features a large 7/4 section, along with many sections with varied and polyrhythmic meters

  • (2003) "Hardball" by Estradasphere - has much variation between 4/4 and 7/4.

  • (2004) "Ask Me" by Otium - the chorus is in 7/4

  • (2004) "Fuck Me For Free" by Recover - the verse is in 7/4

  • (2004) "Little Thoughts" by Bloc Party - ending in 7/4

  • (2004) "Sunrise" by Norah Jones (bridge only)

  • (2004) "Hey! Is That a Ninja Up There?" by Minus The Bear - intro in 7/4, verses in 4/4, chorus in 7/4 and the bridge in 6/4

  • (2005) "Michio'a Death Drive" by Minus The Bear - section in 7/4



7/8

''septuple meter, usually 2+2+3 ''


Partially in 7/8

  • (1964) "Anyone Who Had a Heart" by Burt Bacharach , sung by Dionne Warwick - 7/8 turnaround at the end of the bridge, as pointed out to Bacharach by Dionne Warwick Author unknown/uncredited (1978). "Bacharach and David" , 'Bacharach and David'. Almo Productions. . However the song features "5/4, 4/4, to 7/8 and resolving on 5/8 in only eight bars" according to the All Music Guide Greenwald, Matthew "Anyone Who Had a Heart" , All Music Guide..

  • (1973) "The Cinema Show" by Genesis (the song is in 4/4, the extended outro and keyboard solo is in 7/8)

  • (1975) "Jive Talkin'" by Bee Gees (instrumental break)

  • (1977) "Mad Man Moon" by Genesis (piano solo)

  • (1977) "Animals" by Talking Heads

  • (1978) " La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise In Self-Indulgence) " by Rush (sections in 7/8)

  • (1980) "Natural Science" by Rush (contains several sections of 7/8)

  • (1981) "Tom Sawyer" by Rush (sections in 7/8)

  • (1982) "Subdivisions" by Rush (7/8 and 4/4)

  • (1982) " Golden Brown " by The Stranglers . 6/8 but the instrumental bridges add an extra beat in every other measure, making 7/8

  • (1986) "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" by XTC (verses)

  • (1989) "91 Steps" by Erasure (7 bars of 7/8 then one bar of 3/8)

  • (1992) "The Fourth World" by The David Blamires Group (Alternates between 7/8, 4/4, and 6/8)

  • (1992) "Malpractice" by Faith No More (variously in 7/8 and 4/4)

  • (1993) "Saint Augustine in Hell" by Sting

  • (1993) "The Munificent Seven" by Sting (verse only)

  • (1994) "March of the Pigs" by Nine Inch Nails (Verse and intro, phrased as three bars of 7/8 and one of 4/4)

  • (1996) "That, That Is" by Yes (contains several sections of 7/8)

  • (1997) " Paranoid Android " by Radiohead (middle section has 3 bars 7/8, one bar 8/8)

  • (1998) "Bad Religion" by Godsmack (end of the song)

  • (1999) "Infinity Machine" by I Mother Earth

  • (1999) "Better World" by Toto

  • (2002) "Deliverance" by Opeth (intro part)

  • (2003) "Streetlights, Empty Wells" by Anatomy of a Ghost ( 1st verse and part of middle)

  • (2003) "Fireproof" by Pillar (the bridge contains one measure of 7/8 at the end)

  • (2003) " 2 + 2 = 5 " by Radiohead (first half only, switches to 4/4 from the bridge onwards)

  • (2005) "A Classic Arts Showcase" by beginning and ending in 7/8, middle in common

  • (2005) "Farting With a Walkman On" by Bloodhound Gang (last measures)

  • (2005) "Believe" by Journey (switches to 4/4 later)

  • (2005) "Fight For All The Wrong Reasons" by Nickelback (breakdown)

  • (2005) "Lately" by David Gray (verse and instrumental)

  • (2005) "Selkies: The Endless Obsession" by Between The Buried And Me (intro)

  • (2006) "Intension by Tool



9/4 OR 9/8

(not simply compound triple meter)


Partially in 9/4 or 9/8

  • (1958) "Blue Rondo à la Turk" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet , from the album '' Time Out '' (played as 2+2+2+3 and 3+3+3, with some alternating sections of 4/4) Dryden, Ken. "Blue Rondo a la Turk" , All Music Guide: "unusual time signature of 9/8".

  • (1972) "Apocalypse In 9/8" by Genesis (Penultimate movement of the "Suppers Ready" suite - rhythm section plays a 9/4 riff, organ solo plays over the top of this in 4/4)

  • (1974) "Riding The Scree" by Genesis (the extended instrumental sections have a backbeat in 9/4 though the keyboards occasionally play over the top in 4/4)

  • (1975) "Song for America" by Kansas (Instrumental section in second half)

  • (1982) "Africa" by Toto

  • (1985) "Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple . (Only the outro and bridge) Played as 4/4 & 5/4.

  • (1986) "Jesus Saves" by Slayer (0:50 into the song)

  • (1991) "No More Tears" by Ozzy Osbourne (outro only)

  • (1991) "Paragon Belial" by Darkthrone (intro only)

  • (1996) "Wind Below" by Rage Against The Machine

  • (1997) "It's So You" by 9/8 and common alternating

  • (2003) "The Kids Are Going To Love It" by Million Dead (intro and verses).

  • (2003) "Panic Attack" by Finger Eleven (Pre-Chorus)

  • (2004) "Some Sweet Nothingness" by Gruvis Malt - 1st verse is in 6/8

  • (2005) "Beast and the Harlot" by Avenged Sevenfold (intro and outro)

  • (2005) "Sister Jack" by Spoon (band) (final 30 seconds)

  • (2006) "Jambi" by Tool



10/4



Partially in 10/4

  • (1987) "Wild Side" by Mötley Crüe (instrumental and chorus)

  • (2004) "Safety Train" by Gruvis Malt

  • (2005) "Speak Easy" by 311 (verse only)



10/8

'' (sometimes written as 5/4, but expressed as 3+3+2+2 or 2+2+3+3) ''


Partially in 10/8

  • (1972) " Thick As A Brick " by Jethro Tull (excerpts)

  • (1980) "Touch and Go" by The Cars

  • (1981) " YYZ " by Rush (the intro only)

  • (1991) "No Pain For Cakes" by The Lounge Lizards The middle of the song is in 10/8 (2-2-3-3)

  • (1996) "Time and Motion" by Rush . Parts of the song follow a 10/8 section of 3-3-2-2 (though it is shown as 5/4)

  • (1997) "Rickets" by Deftones

  • (2002) "Lies, Lies, Lies" by Toni Braxton (final part of the song)



11/4

  • (1962) "Eleven Four" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet

  • (1976) "Hernandu" by Weather Report

  • (1982) "Dirt" by Mission of Burma. Can also be heard as a measure of 4/4, a measure of 3/4 and two measures of 2/4.

  • (2005) "Happy Jammy" by Dave Holland Big Band



Partially in 11/4

  • (1978) "Incantations part 1" by Mike Oldfield - opening and closing theme is 6+5

  • (1980) "Does it Really Happen" by Yes chorus is 3+3+5, rest of the song is in 4/4.

  • (1998) "Paradigm Shift" by Liquid Tension Experiment - middle section and ending

  • (2001) "City of Angels" by the Flower Kings . The first half of the song is in 11/4, the remainder is in 3/4.

  • (2004) "A Great Work of Fiction" by Gruvis Malt

  • (2004) "There will be no morning copy" by Clann Zu The first half of the song is in 11/4

  • (2005) "Take, Take, Take" The White Stripes (chorus only)

  • (2006) "Right In Two" by Tool



11/8



Partially in 11/8

  • (1974) "Vision is a Naked Sword" by Mahavishnu Orchestra - Mostly 11/8, with sections in 8/8

  • (1977) "Cygnus X-1" by Rush (Sections only)

  • (1969) "Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers Band intro and post-choruses in 11/8, rest in 12/8

  • (1991) "Love Is a Fist" by Mr Bungle

  • (2002) "Silence Then Aggression" by Gruvis Malt - the second half is in 3/4, 4/4, and 7/4

  • (1972) "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" by Neil Young - arpeggio/guitar solo sections in 11/8, verses and choruses in 4/4 (or 8/8, relative to the 11/8)

  • (2004) "Blood and Thunder" by Mastodon - the bridging instrumental section

  • (2006) "Falling In Between" by Toto



11/16



Partially in 11/16

  • (1974) "The Gates Of Delirium" (Middle Section) by Yes



13/4



Partially in 13/4



13/8



Partially in 13/8

  • (1974) "Starless" by King Crimson The fast sax solo part around the nine minute mark.

  • (1976) "Robbery, Assault And Battery" by Genesis (for over two minutes in the centre of the song - the keyboard solo, a vocal section, and the guitar solo)

  • (1978) "Jacob's Ladder" by Rush (guitar riff to climax of song)

  • (1985) "Lords of the Backstage" by Marillion (and 7/8)

  • (1995) "Future Breed Machine" Meshuggah The clean guitar part preceding the guitar solo and 7/4 breakdown.

  • (1999) "Will Bleed Amen" by Cardiacs - opening riff prior to the vocals (recurrs throughout the piece)

  • (1999) "I Wonder" by Mahavishnu Orchestra

  • (2000) "Sleeping Beauty" by A Perfect Circle . One bar of 6/8, then one bar of 7/8. The song shifts into 4/4 later and then back into 6/8.

  • (2002) "The Glass Prison" by Dream Theater . The first guitar part after the intro.

  • (2004) "The Man With 100 Cells" by Stereolab (first half)



13/16



15/8



Partially in 15/8

  • (1973) "The Ocean" by Led Zeppelin (chorus only)

  • (1993) "Parry The Wind High, Low" by Frank Black (the chord progression at the end is in 15/8 while the drums are in 4/4)

  • (1999) "Gyroscope" by (alternates between common and 15/8)

  • (2005) "Never Fall Asleep On a Sunbed" by Captain Wow (verses and instrumental break)



15/16



Partially in 15/16

  • (1983) "It's A Lovely Day" by Cardiacs (intro and middle eight in 15/16, verses in 4/4)

  • (1990) "Silent Lucidity" by Queensrÿche (intro, rest of the song is in standard 4/4)

  • (1993) "Undertow" by Tool (alternate with 13/16 in bridge)



18/8

  • (1973) "Birds of Fire" by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Guitar plays 5+5+5+3 while drums play 6+6+6. Violin from time to time plays 3+3+2+3+3+2+2. From the book: John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (out of print)



17/4

  • (2001) "Don't put marbles in your nose" by Scäb



17/16

  • (1974) "Spanish Moss: Savannah The Serene" by Billy Cobham

  • (1976) "Anyway" by Journey (drums in 4/4, everything else in 17/16)

  • (1993) "Psycho Shemps" by Tony Fredianelli (but played as 19/16 + 17/16 + 14/16 + 9/8)

  • (2004) "Choosing to Drown" by Mike Keneally

  • (2005) "Open Car" by Porcupine Tree (verses only, everything else in 4/4)



19/8



19/16

  • (1973) "Celestial Terrestrial Commuters" by Mahavishnu Orchestra. From the book: John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (out of print)

  • (1979) "Hell's Bells" by Bill Bruford (7+7+5/16; drums play 7/8+5/16)

  • (2002) "330" by Actual Time



21/16



23/16

  • (1998) "New Millennium Cyanide Christ" by Meshuggah



25/16

  • (2003) "Memory Daydreams Lapses" by O.S.I.



27/8

  • (2002) "Remember" by Disturbed (the verse part)

  • (2006) "Four Times The Arms, Four Times The Power" by )



29/4



31/8



41/16



PARTIALLY IN A SINGLE IRREGULAR TIME SIGNATURE

''(These are songs not listed in any of the "partial" sections above)''


14/4

  • (1998) "Champagne from a Paper Cup" by Death Cab For Cutie approx. half the song in 14/4, rest in common



15/4

  • (1973) "Amazona" by Roxy Music middle VIII

  • (1994) "The Day I Tried to Live" by Soundgarden (verse and bridge)

  • (1995) "Possum Kingdom" by The Toadies (all but chorus)

  • (1998) "April Ethereal" by Opeth (instrumental section near the end of the song; the rest is in 12/8 and 4/4)

  • (1997) "Torn" by Creed (instrumental and bridge)

  • (2005) "Between the End and Where We Lie" by Thrice , played as 7/8 + 7/8 + 7/8 + 9/8 (chorus only)



21/16



29/16



IRREGULAR TIME SIGNATURE COMBINATIONS

''(These songs have musical phrases that are a combination of more than one time signature)''
  • (1874) "Promenade" from '' Pictures At An Exhibition '' by Modest Mussorgsky opens with a theme counting 11 beats, divided as a 5/4 + 6/4 structure. This rhythmic figure appears only five times, as the rest of the piece is written in 6/4. However, the opening theme returns, each time on different beats, proving that it is written so just to make the staff more legible.

  • (1969) " Here Comes The Sun " by The Beatles - in bridge, 11/8 (always preceded by a 7/8 measure). Source: Alan Pollack's 'Notes On' series

  • (1971) " Black Dog " by Led Zeppelin - shifts between 3/4, 4/4, and 5/4

  • (1972) "Siberian Khatru" by Yes - sections in 7/4 (4/4 + 3/4) and 15/4 (4/4 + 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4)

  • (1973) "Giggy Smile" by Faust from Faust IV - 6/8 & 7/8

  • (1979) " Heart Of Glass " by Blondie - the organ solo is built on a 4/4 + 3/4 structure

  • (1979) "Hey You" by Pink Floyd - the bridge has a repeating cycle of 4/4, 2/4, 4/4 and 4/4

  • (1979) "Keep It Greasy" by ) - Modern Drummer, November 1982

  • (1979) "Watermelon in Easter Hay" by Frank Zappa - 4/4 & 5/4. From "The Frank Zappa Guitar Book" (out of print)

  • (1979) "Guardian Angels" by John McLaughlin - 5/8 + 5/8 + 3/4

  • (1981) "five-five-FIVE" by Frank Zappa . 2 measures of 5/8 followed by a measure of 5/4 for the whole song. From "The Frank Zappa Guitar Book" (out of print)

  • (1983) "Changes" by Yes - intro is 4+3+4+3+3, or may be analyzed as constantly changing tempos

  • (1984) "The First Circle" by the Pat Metheny Group - can either be read as 22/8 or 12/8 + 10/8 with a 3+2+3+2+2+3+3+2+2 rhythm. Also has a section in 4/4 and 6/8.

  • (1984) "Frankie's First Affair" by Sade - 3/8 + 5/8

  • (1984) "Blue Lagoon" by Laurie Anderson - 7/16 + 7/16 + 7/16 + 6/16

  • (1988) "Sanitarium (Welcome Home)" by Metallica - 4/4 + 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4 + 3/4 + 2/4

  • (1992) "Wait For Sleep" by Dream Theater - 5/8 + 5/8 + 5/8 + 4/8 + 6/8 + 6/8 + 6/8 + 4/8

  • (1992) "You" by Radiohead (on '' Pablo Honey '') - Three measures in 6/8 followed by one measure in 5/8

  • (1994) "The Best of What's Around" by Dave Matthews Band (chorus only - structured as 4+4+4+2)

  • (1995) "The Dark Prison" by Drew Neumann for MTV's " Æon Flux " - 4/4 x4 + 3/8

  • (1994) " March Of The Pigs " by Nine Inch Nails - 7/8 + 7/8 + 7/8 + 4/4

  • (1997) "Jóga" by Björk - (chorus only) 3 measures of 4/4, 1 of 1/4

  • (1998) "Bad Diary Days" by Pedro The Lion - 8/4 + 6/4

  • (1998) "Slow Disorder" by Poets & Slaves - 5/4 + 6/8 + 12/8

  • (1999) "S.S. Eggshell" by Thingy - 13/8 + 11/8

  • (2000) "I Feel the Air (of Another Planet)" by Stereolab - 3 measures of 4/4, 1 measure of 2/4

  • (2001) "No Joy" by Khanate - 4 measures of 3/4, 1 measure of 2/4

  • (2001) "Nothing to Gein" by Mudvayne - bridge and instrumental follow 4/4 + 5/4 pattern, the rest is 4/4

  • (2002) "A Headache and a Sixty-Fourth" by Ron Jarzombek - "one measure of 4/4, followed by a measure of 1/64" http://www.ronjarzombek.com/headache.html

  • (2002) "Rest in Peace" - James Marsters (from Buffy The Vampire Slayer , Once More, With Feeling ; main chorus contains five measures of 4/4, one measure of 2/4, and another three measures of 4/4.

  • (2003) "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt" by The Mars Volta (Robotalk guitar solo part starting at 4:11) - 1 complete cycle is: 1 bar of 6/8 and a 16th note triplet beat followed by 1 bar of 9/8 and a 16th note triplet beat (x2)

  • (2003) "Mama Tried" by intro and ends of choruses - 7/4 + 7/4 + 7/4 + 7/4 + 6/4

  • (2003) "Go to Sleep. (Little Man Being Erased.)" by Radiohead - first half is 4/4 + 6/8 + 6/8

  • (2004) "Symptoms of You" by Lindsay Lohan - bridge is subdivided 9/8 + 5/4 according to Vinnie Colaiuta

  • (2004) "Follow (The 1st Movement of the Odyssey)" by Incubus - 9/8 + 11/8

  • (2005) "Lyla" by Oasis - chorus has lines of 5/4 followed by 3/4 instead of two 4/4 bars.

  • (2005) " Ode To Isis " by ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead sequence (5/4 + 5/4 + 5/4 + 6/4) repeated through whole song

  • (2005) "Lydianism" by Kristoffer Håvik - Part B: 5/4 - 7/4 - 5/4 - 7/4 - 5/4 - 7/4 - 5/4 - 11/8 (repeated)

  • (2005) "Can't Stop The Bleeding" by Clit 45 verses are (4/4 + 4/4 + 4/4 + 5/4) two times

  • (2005) "Naked Faces" by Abstrakt Collision - chorus is three measures of 3/8, followed by one measure of 3/4



MULTIPLE IRREGULAR TIME SIGNATURES

''(These songs have different irregular meters in different sections)''
  • (1924) "Le Monde dans l'attente du Sauveur" (The World Awaiting the Saviour) from Symphonie-Passion, Op.23 for Organ by Marcel Dupre. Contrasting time signatures of 5/8, 7/8, 2/4, 6/8, 4/4, 6/4, 9/8, 7/4, 5/4.

  • (1933) "Transports de Joie d'une Ame devant la gloire du Christ qui est la Sienne", from 'L'Ascension' for organ, by Olivier Messiaen. Constant changes of key signature throughout, including 4/4, 2/4, 5/4, 5/8, 7/8, 11/8.

  • (1968) " MacArthur Park " by Richard Harris " - mainly 4/4, but 3/4, 2/4, and 3/8 bars appear at each major transition.

  • (1968) " Happiness Is A Warm Gun " by The Beatles - Begins in 4/4, switches to 3/4 for "I Need a Fix", then 1 measure 9/8 and 1 measure 10/8 for "Mother Superior", before ending with 4/4 (and a polyrhythmic 3/4 & 4/4 segment)

  • (1969) "How Many More Times" by Led Zeppelin contains 12/8, 4/4 and 1/4

  • (1970) "Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin contains 2/4,3/4,4/4,5/4,12/8,9/8,7/8,5/8 & 15/8 time signatures. There are a few measures in 4/4 near the end, but it then returns to 3/4 and 5/8.

  • (1970) "Toads of the Short Forest" by Frank Zappa has sections in 3/4, 5/8, and 7/8, including one section in which parts in all three time signatures are played over each other by different parts of the band.

  • (1973) "The Crunge" by Led Zeppelin - contains 4/4, 9/8 and 5/8

  • (1973) "Dream" by Mahavishnu Orchestra . Mostly 15/4; some sections are in 15/8 & 15/16 as well

  • (1975) "Lila's Dance" by Mahavishnu Orchestra - the beginning is in 7/8, which leads to 5/4, then 20/8, and then back to 5/4, and then back to 7/8 for the ending.

  • (1975) "Pastoral" by Mahavishnu Orchestra - contains sections in 11/4 and in 3/4 + 3/4 + 3/4 + 3/4 + 3/8

  • (1977) "Barracuda" by Heart - Mostly 4/4; verses start with 9/4, final section is in 7/4

  • (1980) "Jacob's Ladder" by Rush . Intro played as 5/4 & 6/4. When the vocals enter, Geddy Lee does a section of 4/4 while the guitar and drums play 5/4 & 6/4 in the background. Towards the end of the song, a 13/8 section is played as 6/8 & 7/8.

  • (1980) "Freewill" by Rush - first half of each verse is 6/4 + 7/4 + 6/4 + 8/4 done twice. Some "filler" sections in this song are performed in 5/4 and 7/8.

  • (1984) "Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Part III)" by King Crimson - 17/8 and 10/8

  • (ca 1980s) "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12" from Sesame Street - bars in 15/8, 14/8, 12/8 and 11/8.

  • (1986) "Songs of Praise" - Toccata for organ, by Robert Prizeman. Contrasting time signatures of 2/4 and 3/8 throughout, one bar in 3/4. Was used as the theme tune of the "Songs of Praise" series on BBC television.

  • (1990) "The Cool, Cool River by Paul Simon - mostly 3/4 + 3/8; bridge is in conventional 9/8

  • (1992) "Learning To Live" by Dream Theater - piece includes 13/4, 15/8, 11/8, 7/4

  • (1992) "Sweat" by Tool - verse is 7 measures of 3/8 and 1 of 2/8; instrumental is 15/4 or 15/8

  • (1994) "Dancing Mad 4.2" by Nobuo Uematsu (from the Final Fantasy VI OST) - main themes in 15/8 with interludes of 4/4, 12/16, 3/4, and 7/8

  • (1994) "Permanent Daylight" by Radiohead - 4/4 + 6/8 + 12/8

  • (1995) "Stupid Puma" by Don Caballero - mostly 5/8; also contains 6/8, 7/8, 11/8, and 12/8 (structured as 5+5+2)

  • (1999) "Home" by Dream Theater - contains parts in 31/16 (played as 6/4 + 7/16) and, at the end, 19/16

  • (1999) "Memory Machine" by - 14/4, common, and 5/4

  • (1999) "The Dance of Eternity" by Dream Theater - incorporates an incredible amount of time signature changes (in order, each entry written once): 4/4, 7/8, 3/4, 13/16, 15/16, 17/16, 14/16, 5/4, 6/8, 2/4, 5/8, 11/4, 9/4, 7/16, 6/16, 5/16, 10/16, 9/8, 15/8, 12/16, 16/16 (3+3+3+3+2+2), 3/8.

  • (2000) "Hunger Strike" by Estradasphere - 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, and 7/8

  • (2000) "Dance of Tosho & Slavi/Randy's Desert Adventure" by Estradasphere - 7/8 followed by 9/8, and then back to 7/8

  • (2001) "The Drapery Falls" by Opeth - mostly 12/8; contains instrumental sections in 5/8 and 5/4

  • (2001) "Mushroom Cult" by Dog Fashion Disco - Intro and ending 8/4 + 9/4. A bridge on (3/4 + 3/8 + 3/4 + 2/8)x2. A middle verse on 10/4 x3 then 16/4. Also includes other irregular time signatures.

  • (2001) "Ticks & Leeches" by Tool - verses are in 7/4, the section between the second chorus and the slow section is in 15/4 (8+7), with chorus in 4+3+3+2+2+2/8 and slow section in 3+3+3+3+2+2/8.

  • (2001) "Schism" by Tool - The first and last sections are based on 6/4 divided into 5 + 7, and the middle section is based on alternating 12/8 and 15/8, with many other changes. See Schism (song) .

  • (2001) "Pink Riots" by Dog Fashion Disco from ''Anarchists of Good Taste'' - Intro in 17/16 and 18/16, the song has sections in 10/8, 18/8. At least one bar is in 19/8. Maybe there's more to it and I missed it.

  • (2002) "Trapped in The Wake Of A Dream" by Mudvayne - contains 11/8 and 17/8

  • (2002) "Mennevvogth" by Ruins - has parts in 5/4 and 9/8, among others

  • (2003) "Another Dimenson" by Liquid Tension Experiment - mostly in 4/4; contains short sections in 10/4 and 7/8, among others

  • (2003) "Capobaby" by Jarcrew - contains an instrumental 5/4 and 7/4 section

  • (2003) "Gravity" by A Perfect Circle - verses and choruses in 3+3+1/8, changes to 5/4 in the bridge, and finally to 4/4 for the final chorus

  • (2003) "Low" by Kelly Clarkson - verse follows 4+4+3+4/4 pattern, first part of chorus follows 4+4+2/4 pattern; otherwise 4/4

  • (2003) "Romantic Comedy" by Stars - verse follows pattern 4+2+4+4/4, chorus is 4+2+4+4+2/4

  • (2003) "Face:Face" by Norma Jean - Intro/Verse follows pattern 5/8 + 7/8 + 5/8 + 9/8, Bridge/Breakdown in 4

  • (2003) "1010011010" by Cog - Intro in 9/4, main section in 7/4, middle section in 6/8 with a short four-bar 4/4 section in the middle before returning to a 9/4 outro.

  • (2003) "Stream of Consciousness" by Dream Theater - features a section of 6/4 + 5/4, and the guitar and keyboard solos are in 5/8 + 5/8 + 6/8 + 6/8.

  • (2003) "When The Water Breaks" by Liquid Tension Experiment - contains 7/8, 5/8, and 7/4, among others

  • (2003) "Panic Attack" by Finger Eleven - contains 7/8 and 9/8

  • (2003) "Thieves and Poets I" by John McLaughlin 5/4, 4/4, and several measures of other meters

  • (2004) "Harbor" by Vienna Teng - "this is in 5/4, 7/4, occasionally 4/4, occasionally 3/4, and sort of changes all over the place just to keep things interesting" according to Vienna {Link without Title}

  • (2004) "I Swallowed Hard, Like I Understood" by 65daysofstatic - Changes between 5/4 and 11/4

  • (2004) "Panasonic Youth" by The Dillinger Escape Plan - contains 14/16, 15/16 and 17/16, among others

  • (2004) "Cryptooology" by Yowie

  • {2004) "Let's Play Clowns" by Minus The Bear - intro in 4/4 and 5/4, verses in 4/4, prechorus in 6/4, chorus in 4/4, bridge in 5/4 and outro in 5/4, 7/4 and 4/4

  • (2004) "There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake" by Biffy Clyro - second half in 5/8; last section in 6/8 + 5/8 + 5/8 + 5/8

  • (2005) "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus" by The Mars Volta - various movements of the song contain passages in 10/4, 11/8, 15/4, and 29/16, among others.

  • (2005) "Empty Feat" by - verse in 4/4, chorus and instrumental in 13/4, bridge in 18/4

  • (2005) "The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders" by Sufjan Stevens - 11/8 for most of the song; also includes some 5/4, 13/8, and common

  • (2005) "Life in Yellow" by Polysics - runs through every meter from 2 to 8 in two minutes (depending partially on how bars are split) at high tempo; sans repetitions, the pattern is 3+3+3+2 3+3+3+4 8+5+8+6+8 7+7+7+7+8 7+7+8+8

  • (2005) "Where's Mo?" by Abstrakt Collision - 4/4, 5/4, and 15/8

  • (2006) "The Deep Interconnectedness of All Things" by We Are The Music Makers The beginning of the song is an alternating 6/4 and 7/4 pattern. The middle section is 11/8 x2, 13/8, 15/8, 15/16 and 19/16.



UNKNOWN

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