What's the time signature (meter) in this song?

TotalHenshin · 10-14-2009, 08:28 PM

Hi folks. I'm not allowed to post URLs yet, but if you go to youtube and put in "m.i.a. galang" either one of the first or second results should link you to a proper video of the song of which I am speaking. I'm sure most of you have heard this song at one point or another. Regardless of its quality, my friend suggested that this piece was written in common time (4/4), but when I listen to it, it really sounds like 3/4 to me. If I say 1,2,3,4 quicker than how I'm saying 1,2,3, then it starts correctly, but the notes inbetween don't feel right to me. Can you tell me who's right, and if it's my friend, why it doesn't seem to sound right to me?

Arya Stark · 10-14-2009, 11:12 PM

It's in Common Time.

**Janszoon** · 10-14-2009, 11:18 PM

Sounds like 4/4 to me. Maybe it sounds off to you because the accents are on different beats than you are used to?

Arya Stark · 10-14-2009, 11:24 PM

That's what it is. It's definitely in Common Time.

SATCHMO · 10-15-2009, 01:35 AM

It's 4/4. The accents on the 2nd beat. That's what's throwing you off.

TotalHenshin · 10-15-2009, 05:41 AM

So would the fourth beat be the one followed shortly by that "thrash bass" sound (for lack of better terms)?

stormjh · 10-15-2009, 05:56 AM

While we're on the topic, if anyone could work out what's going on here in the breakdown (type bit), then I'll be their new best friend. Between 2:15 and 3:01 in youtube - watch?v=fca-XzzxpAY (dont think I'm allowed to post links still)

tgpo · 10-15-2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TotalHenshin

So would the fourth beat be the one followed shortly by that "thrash bass" sound (for lack of better terms)?

The first hit of the "thrash bass" is the 4rd beat.

You can see the meter around 11 seconds in. Every time she pushes her elbow out and the screen bumps is a beat.

TotalHenshin · 10-15-2009, 08:15 AM

Yeah, that's what I thought. I just assumed the song would naturally have a high amount of BPM, being a club/dance song, and that seems to be what threw me. Thanks everyone for the clarification.

Arya Stark · 10-15-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormjh

While we're on the topic, if anyone could work out what's going on here in the breakdown (type bit), then I'll be their new best friend. Between 2:15 and 3:01 in youtube - watch?v=fca-XzzxpAY (dont think I'm allowed to post links still)

Just tell me the song.

Don't try to post a link.

10-14-2009, 08:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
TotalHenshin Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	What's the time signature (meter) in this song? Hi folks. I'm not allowed to post URLs yet, but if you go to youtube and put in "m.i.a. galang" either one of the first or second results should link you to a proper video of the song of which I am speaking. I'm sure most of you have heard this song at one point or another. Regardless of its quality, my friend suggested that this piece was written in common time (4/4), but when I listen to it, it really sounds like 3/4 to me. If I say 1,2,3,4 quicker than how I'm saying 1,2,3, then it starts correctly, but the notes inbetween don't feel right to me. Can you tell me who's right, and if it's my friend, why it doesn't seem to sound right to me?

10-14-2009, 11:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Sounds like 4/4 to me. Maybe it sounds off to you because the accents are on different beats than you are used to? __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

10-15-2009, 05:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
stormjh Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 161	While we're on the topic, if anyone could work out what's going on here in the breakdown (type bit), then I'll be their new best friend. Between 2:15 and 3:01 in youtube - watch?v=fca-XzzxpAY (dont think I'm allowed to post links still) Last edited by stormjh; 10-15-2009 at 06:13 AM. Reason: oops spelling

10-15-2009, 01:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	It's 4/4. The accents on the 2nd beat. That's what's throwing you off.

10-15-2009, 05:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
TotalHenshin Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	So would the fourth beat be the one followed shortly by that "thrash bass" sound (for lack of better terms)?

10-15-2009, 08:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
TotalHenshin Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	Yeah, that's what I thought. I just assumed the song would naturally have a high amount of BPM, being a club/dance song, and that seems to be what threw me. Thanks everyone for the clarification.