You could of course break this down into 4 4 4 3. However i do feel the whole thing as one big figure or phrase. I made this up spur of the moment thought it was cool plus I added some bass work. Chords are Cmaj7,F7,Asus, and B7.

Coming Around  15/4  subdivided 4 4 4 3. Looped x4.

One day I was taking into consideration "What meters work against what?" and I also asked "Can there be a basic formula to start with?" While working on poly meter ideas.

One day I looped a bass figure or GROOVE in 5/4. Then I decided to loop a different bass groove in 4/4 and lay it over. 

As I heard them both playing back simultaneously I started paying attention to what could be improved. One interesting thing I noticed is that if you're going to layer things or write "Poly Meters" is that it would definitely help to voice your lines in separate registers of your instrument in order to better establish CONTRAST. A contrast could be MELODY and RHYTHM. Or think of your bass or guitar more like a piano and ask "Where are my bass registers and where are my treble registers on my instrument?" 

When it comes to PAIRING UP meters its easier to start with meters that are 2 to 3 quarter note beats apart. 

After taking these things into consideration I took a stab at these new found concepts. I decided to lay down the first bass line in a 16th note groove pattern in 4/4. To make things more interesting with this bass line I decided to play the bass figure in a two bar duration of 4/4. Hence "8" or 8/4. 

 The 2nd bass line I went for a melody and decided to play it in 7/4. Melody for the contrast and 7/4 for the 2 to 3 beat separation. In this case a 3 beat difference from 4/4.

 Now that I think of it I wish I went with a 2 bar duration of 7/4 for the melody rather than a one bar loop. Oh well. Still learning Hahaha.

 I don't say 8 "OVER" 7. Or use the word "OVER". Rather I regard it as 8 and 7 because I feel that both parts are equal. Neither one needs to be considered first before the other.

If anything I hope these ideas communicate well. Thanks for listening and reading.

Poly Meter: 8 on 7. Two different rhythms on bass. Listen for beat one.

Played two chords on guitar and thought why not play both of these chords 4 bars a piece? So I did with the first guitar chord in a duration of "4" bars of 3/4 and then I thought I'll do the same for the next chord except for the 4th measure I'll stretch it out by a quarter note, So 3 bars of 3/4 and a bar of 4/4.

Then with bass I figured why not make things interesting by playing two bars of 6/4 over the first guitar chord and then for the 2nd guitar chord I played one bar of 6/4 then a bar in 7/4. 

This is the result. I played this for a potential prog-rock band I'm working with and they all dug out. Got a real sick JAM out of it too.

Reflection   3/4 (x7) + 4/4 (x1)

The bass line is what I presented to a couple of musicians I've been working with. The drummer got the overall pulse and went for it. As for the guitarist he NOW sounds light years ahead from what you hear here after spending time at home with the idea. The last session we had together was awesome but we forgot the recorder !!!!   

Steady progress.

Reflection live with bass and drums. Plus some guitar sketching.

Lullaby 5/8

Transcendence  6-8-6-8 , 6-8-6-10

A band I have been a part of for a while named Uncle Virus decided to cover this Floyd classic for an upcoming Halloween show. I have always felt that this song required some kind of a Tom Waits vibe vocally. I noodled around with my DL4 delay pedal to get a fuller sound and to pop out some bass leads.

I messed up a few times but this was an early rehearsal recorded with a hand held recorder a few weeks ago. recent practices have sounded pretty awesome.

Have A Cigar (cover) I'm on bass

I originally intended 3 over 5 but it came out as 6 and 10. I find it more soothing to the ear to write poly meters that are apart by an even number. After the third time the melody plays through you can hear both parts lock in on beat 1 again.

Hope this inspires a pursuit of musical ideas/music concepts in your own writings.  

6 And 10 Poly Meter

Recorded with an iPhone......This musical idea was done on the spot. The drums are in 4/4 and the piano is in 5/4. After 4 bars of 4/4 the drums lock in again with the piano on beat 1 of the 5th measure. We did this twice to hear how everything falls back into place. I believe all this is technically referred to as a  poly meter...Combining two different rhythms at the same time. 

Poly Meter. Drums in 4 and Piano in 5.

After messing with some 7th chords I figured why not play them in 7/4 time? I put down both bass and guitar for the endeavor. I recorded this with just an old JAMMAN loop pedal. Both tracks where done in one take.

Floating Around In 7/4

Bass and guitar playing in 5/8+7/8

The intro is a polymeter: Guitar 5/4 and bass 6/4. 
The lead in to the verse is in 6/4
The verse itself can be thought of as 6/4+4/4 or a bar of 10/4.

I was listening to a lot of Fiona Apple around this time.

"Going Forward"  Poly Meter intro: Guitar 5/4 and bass in 6/4. Verse in 10/4.

I was listening to a lot of Depeche Mode and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club when I made this. I hear this becoming a song about a transition from heartbreak but the story would be cut up like a Tarantino movie.

I made an attempt to submit this idea to a band that I've been involved in but it was turned down.  In writing music with odd meters I have come to realize that there are many singers out there that don't take into consideration RHYTHM as a part of their approach to singing......."FEEL" players ( No technical foundation) of all kinds are a dime a dozen out here in Los Angeles. If you're a singer who can navigate odd meters you will go very far out here.

Love and Fallacies  Verse in 5/4 and chorus in 4/4

The concept behind this idea was to express something less rigid sounding in 8th note time. In other words something that had a little breath to it rather than it sounding like a musical exercise. Which is why I also added a melody on top in hopes of giving more of a sense of space and texture. I think I did alright.

This was done with just guitar on a JAMMAN loop pedal. One take each.

The Moment Is Now 7/8

I was messing around with a jazz chord within drop D tuning DADGBE. I had been going through a phase of letting notes sustain out after messing with piano for a while. It was the start of putting textures within my own playing. This was the result of these ideas.

I may change the bass line to something completely new. I don't like shadowing instruments together too much.

A Late Night Mind Wander  10/4

Hello. Welcome to my music journal of concepts. 

I believe that odd rhythms are not utilized enough in songs. I am constantly looking for rhythmic formulas that have a flow where any listener can fall in.  For now this place serves as a musical sketch journal. I hope that in sharing these musical sketches you will gain some creative ideas. 

If you want to use these tracks for anything let me know.

Soundscape Asylum

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