Odd time signatures: how to count 5/4, 7/8 and 9/8
Odd meters are just short and long groups. Learn the groupings, hear them on the click track below, and practise until the long group stops tripping you up.
Groupings at a glance
| Meter | Grouping | Count | Where you hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/4 | 3+2 (or 2+3) | 1 2 3 4 5 | Dave Brubeck Quartet, "Take Five" |
| 7/4 | 4+3 | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 | Pink Floyd, "Money" |
| 5/8 | 3+2 | 1-2-3 1-2 | Common in Greek and Balkan folk dances |
| 6/8 | 3+3 | 1-2-3 4-5-6 | Compound duple: two beats of three eighths |
| 7/8 | 2+2+3 | 1-2 1-2 1-2-3 | Balkan and progressive rock grooves |
| 9/8 | 2+2+2+3 | 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2-3 | Dave Brubeck, "Blue Rondo à la Turk"; Turkish aksak rhythms |
Click track
High click = bar start, middle click = group start. In /8 meters the click is on every eighth note.
How to practise
- Say the groups. Count 7/8 as "1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3" before you play a note.
- Clap only the accents with the click, then fill in the other notes.
- Go slow. 60–80 BPM until you can play eight clean bars; then add 5 BPM.
- Feel the long group. Most players rush the "3" at the end of 7/8 and 9/8. Leave it its full length.
Questions
What is an odd time signature?
A meter whose bar can't be split into equal groups of two or three beats, such as 5/4, 7/8 or 9/8 (as 2+2+2+3). They're counted as a mix of short (2) and long (3) groups.
How do you count 7/8?
Usually as 2+2+3: "1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3" or "1 & 2 & 3 & a". Other groupings such as 3+2+2 and 2+3+2 exist; the music tells you which one is meant.
Is 6/8 an odd time signature?
No. 6/8 is compound duple: two groups of three eighth notes, felt as two beats. It's included here because it's often practised alongside 5/8 and 7/8.
How should I practise odd meters?
Start slow (60–80 BPM), count the groups out loud, clap or tap the accents, then speed up only when you can play several clean bars in a row. Rhythm Trainer scores each tap to the millisecond so you can see if you're rushing the short groups.