Derrick Pope - Counting Odd Time Signatures

[MultiFisherofmen]

I wish I could find a teacher like this where I live .... He explains sooo well . Thank you very very much !

[pleximanic]

How do you break down the Jan Hammer tune Twenty One rhythmically?

[zxc0011]

Who's Dream Theater?

[TheDice2008]

Who looks good here.

[MrPaulgore]

good lesson but please get to the point.....too much chat

[xXParanormalPunxXx]

at 12:00 were you playing tap drags or flam tap drags?

[XtasicRider]

7:00 lmao

[benoitdrums1996]

31 \16 = 4\4 + 3\4 +3\16 :D!

[Bulldog22031]

I wish when I started playing drums 18 years ago that someone had explained this concept to me like you did. So much more simple than how I learned.

[junoonuj]

greeting from scotland...your video here is superb mate! clear, precise and straight to the point...and easy to understand. all the best my friend.

[SatanicBlasphemer666]

Man! You should consider teaching quantum physics at the University! Everyone is gonna be a great Physicist after learning from you! Great Teacher!

[jaaan17]

No drugs, just passion.

[marko92pn]

Dude, I'm not a drummer and this helped me so much. Thanks a lot.

[DustinShaneYounce]

As soon as you mentioned Dream Theater I shat brix, they are the main reason I want to learn the odd times.

[jakehenlan]

a video cannot be over 15 minutes? World record!!!! jk how do you do that

[Moran669XBL]

I really appreciate this lesson! Thanks man!

[Geeljasjes]

Not many people know how to explain things.

You're one of the few that can.

Thanks for this vid mate!!!

[stankylittleangus]

You killed it man. You just helped me understand a musical concept that was so foreign to me before. Great teacher. Thanks a ton!

[420jaymac]

excellent vid and explaination bro!

[YearsBecomeDays]

This is amazing, I'm a guitar player and I found this video very helpful. I was pretty much in the right direction with my odd signature counting, but wasn't sure if I was correct. Also I watched the whole video, which doesn't happen very often, because usually, people who make lessons on youtube are amateurs and don't know how to keep others interested, even professional musicians lack teaching skill. Your lesson was very vivid and interesting, keep it up.

P.S. + for Breaking Benjamin t-shirt

[chikinpie1]

very helpful, great video!

[TheIBeanz]

2:42 is EPIC XD

[rockista45]

your really good derrick pope

[ibonyun]

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! You're giving away all my trade secrets and making it so easy for people to do!!

[PREM00SE]

Lots of people below me are suggesting he's on some sort of illegal drugs. I don't mean to alarm you, but people who are passionate about music pretty much get high off of it. Thats how John Frusciante kicked heroin, he started getting high off music instead. Great video by the way.

[quantumquantum]

Hi Derrick. Thanks for this video man, I'm a guitarist and been wanting to program my drum machine for an idea I had, but with an offbeat. This has really helped.

[lennythecow123]

10 ppl cant play in 21/16 time

[Forevaitalia]

The good part starts at 6:54

[crimsonheretic]

holy shit, I cant believe that i've been using odd time signatures ever since started playing and I dont even know that i'm doing it already....

[dabestmaygn]

Quoting romeo, kicking ass on drums. I ramble too, but you make sense. I dig.

[yunick07]

Very, very helpful!! Now I understand more about time signatures! This is much better than all classes i had all my life! Man you're awesome!

[mh1almighty]

Hi there.. this greatly de-mystified ODD time signatures.

Now Im enlightened ...:)

[BittenMitten]

press 6 if you wanna know how to play.

[robulrich]

this man deserves a teaching job at berklee

[robulrich]

21/16 O.o

[DrummerGrrrl]

Thanks for all your lessons! You do ramble a little bit but it's amusing, rather than annoying. :-) You are the first person to really explain the ins and outs of playing odd times. I'm definitely going to check out your other videos.

[davidoh14]

The ramble at 5.00 was awesome. So awesome. Everone who is watching DOES know what you mean. AWESOME. Great teacher. Keep up the videos man

[davidoh14]

The ramble at 5.00 was awesome. So awesome. Everone who is watching DOES knw what you mean. AWESOME. Great teacher. Keep up the videos man

[CollinExplosion]

This made everything so much easier for me now.

[CollinExplosion]

02:42 what an ODD orgasm

[aaronedgardrum]

Nice man!

[sms42013]

this is so unformational and understandable !

i randomly came arcoss this video and i dont even play the drums. i do play other instruments and this helped me out so much cause i suck at counting!

THANK YOU SO MUCH DUDE!

[vindrum]

Dude !!!!! You need your own tv show man.... Your entertaining while getting the point across ..

[vindrum]

Dude !!!!! You need your own tv show man.... Your entertaining while getting the point across .. 

[dracontamer]

subbed thumbed and fav'ed

[pinkvelvet100]

this video is ridiculously helpful

thanks very much man =D

[pinkvelvet100]

this video is ridiculously helpful

[kingmat01]

This guy is the shit!!! Now he can teach! :)

[saprijean]

helpful as hell got stuff to practice now..

[SSBBBDD]

Breaking Benjamin shirt? Nice. :D

You're a good teacher man.

[DanceTypej]

that was awesome man, really helped me out!

[1TreeNinja1]

Thank you Derrick

[drums402]

get an HD Camera!

[pidolbaragas]

Hey it`s Kurt Cobain Teaching us...

[kthcsh]

great teacher!! great lesson!

[ebelingbl]

holy crap. this made my brain hurt, but I fully got it. Thanx man

[kibbanugget2]

Rambling FTW

[Calibur43]

Dang....I just had an epiphany and was able to count the drumming on the main groove in Mirrors by Between The Buried And Me. Thank you. 

[ACS1994]

super helpful video had to take the time to log in and thumb up. =]

[emmanuelniiayihammon]

@ACS1994 same here

[chocolatecookie5]

IS YOUR SHIRT A 'WE ARE NOT ALONE' BY BREAKING BENJAMIN ALBUM T-SHIRT!? plz respond

[chocolatecookie5]

IS YOUR SHIRT A 'WE ARE NOT ALONE' BY BREAKING BENJAMIN ALBUM T-SHIRT!? plz respond

[czgibson]

This guy is definitely on some uppers of some kind.

[Moiez101]

His "rambling" is what i call passionate and critical teaching. he can relate something like music and its "odd" time signature labeling to life and other areas in it. This is quality teaching.

[n00bProgrammer]

I've been playing these time signatures for years without knowing it. You are a fantastic teacher!

[WillNatch]

nice help, but you act like you're on cocaine a bit...

but it was very helpful

[yonatawodi]

Well explained man

[RonPaulMountainBiker]

great player and great teacher. Thanks muchly!

[hanibanch]

Haha. Thanks.

[jonny6strings]

Thank You.

[livindead13]

ODD ODD!!! LMAO

[sikory]

4:19 is great

[ibanezlover1234]

thank you so much I never understood odd timings and time signatures fully till i watched you're video. Now my progression is in the hands of the beholder. me. Thanks again. :D

[mygenericusernamenow]

dude i love your passion great passion

[insyteband]

good hands. This video helped BIG time Thank you.

[saedt]

mind = blown

[OneSaucyFellow]

OH MAH GOSH, this helped me SO MUCH, thank you sir!

[GQflydude]

very niiice

[Mayokitty7]

In the recommended videos is a Rush song...

haha.

[adiaddict]

OMG is that a we are not alone t-shirt! if so amazing! :D

[Kinicatcher]

Thanks man... very well put... Been beating my head against a wall till now. Cheers.

[Omedelbart8]

by FAR the most entertaining, instructual and interesting drumlesson on youtube.

[iugeftp]

helped a lot thanks

[JustAnotherDrummerJG]

THANK YOU SO MUCH DERRICK!!

[tompouceuh]

OMFG. I actually get it for the first time! Thanks so much for this!

[SHocknitro10332]

Your fucking amazing dude.

[TheDustyspears]

Dude, you're my new buddy. I love your lessons.

[utsawin09]

THIS GUY PHUCKING ROCKS......I SWEAR, IF I SEE HIM WALKING DOWN THE STREET I WILL BOW/TIP MY HAT OFF TO HIM

[Splinter2101]

lol, "oh yes I am in an odd time signature! ODD ODD!" I already knew what odd time signatures were but this video cleared a few things up thanks.

[smartarted]

You should really be a teacher, you're amazing at explaining things. Thanks a bunch, this really helped me a lot.

[Who2Are1You]

Thank you so much!

[maniacguitar]

you look like Sawyer from lost :)

awesome video, helped out alot!

[teddycozmik]

this dude is great.  i think we smoked one behind the a&w back in 88.

[nocheddarno]

is there anyone who can explain time sigs on youtube who isn't at least a bit douchey?

[backbeatbobby]

this guy is a genius drum teacher

[mcdrummonkey]

dude your funny and you explaned everyithng really good thnx alot!

[bobangel87]

awesome video!!!!!!! Im a guitarist and thinking in terms of drums beats when doing time sigs. helos me a lot. Great video!!!! thanks man!

[CtrlAItFU]

Very resourceful, but there is something that I don't understand. Take the 13/8 time signature. Why 6/8 + 7/8? Why not simplify it from the start and have it 4/4 one measure and 5/8 the next, with no need for 13/8? By the way, I'm asking from a guitarists point of view, if that makes a difference.

[PhilosopherOnWeed]

@CtrlAItFU Maybe a bit late, but Im a guitarplayer as well, no drummer. But when you put it 4/4 and the other measure 5/8 its going to have different beats and accents. You don't want that when you want to have a steady beat in the song.

[Innercitylightsband]

I love that you didn't have any addition tables in mind before you recorded this video. Ballsy move, I would have been stumbling all over that shit haha. 

[1996camsope]

the most helpful thing i've ever watched!!! thanks so much!!!!

[1996camsope]

this was easily... THE most helpful video i have EVER watched! thank you so much!!!!!

[cyberskelet0n]

I have no trouble with time signatures at all and still watched this video from front to back.

[holyshititsme]

youve shown me the path derrick, I was walking through the woods

[absolutefuture2]

great explanation! understandable and interesting thanks

[obtom1331]

VERY helpful.  thank you

[skillet000red]

thanks for the vid, im a guitarist but my drummers crazy with playing polyrythms in time sigs where i cant even find one haha, this helped

[jacobtheguitarfreak]

Great video. If you dig odd time, listen to some mathrock. Tera Melos and Giraffes? Giraffes! are two great bands.

[RizzoSaurusRex]

That chair looks like you stole it from Steve from Blue's Clues

[ThyHoneyNut]

i dont see how relationships are like debating what "odd" time signatures. lmao. but sweet lesson.

[puredigitalcam]

12:45 You mean the important thing is PLAYING, not counting right?

[Utcheeow]

Ahahah, you are not only the best drum teacher ever seen on Youtube but also a funny guy; always a pleasure listening to your lessons, keep up the amazing work Derrick!

[gonzo666X]

highly informative

[ChaoticLandscape]

cheers man, very helpful! i got a passage in a song im writing which has 10 notes then 11 notes and i wanted to find out how to break it down for a click track to record it to.

nice work mate :)

[Noahshollow]

my math is terrible xD

i pissed my pants on that

[TheBeaulo]

That helped alot. Thanks

Love your videos

[h879xx]

cotopaxi - mars volta. Explain...

[voidofidea]

this guy is a funny explainer, nice video !

[aqmnsk8]

thank u! =)

[ChristianLanas]

this is the best video on the net , about this,,, plus the physiological intro it is good.... so dont switch the video if you hear the word highschool... haha just an example,

2048/1024

[tomonthedrums]

Very helpful, thank you.

[goonyougoodthing]

it would be alot easyier for you to teach with a full drum kit

[missjesrah]

I'm not even a drummer but with a basic knowledge of music, that was completely clear! Great job.

[drexblasties]

This is a very informative video!

Odd time signatures are so much easier to read!

[micp4130]

that was the last place i expected to hear a shakespear qoute...

[Boosh0091]

very VERY helpful. Thanks for the vid bro.

[badmammal]

wow that was great. thank you very much, i love your style. great teacher :)

[FailSoEpic]

a good example for odd time signatures is almost anything by This Town Needs guns. many odd ones contained in single songs. if i counted right, one of their songs goes from 4/4 to 13/4 to 5/4 to 26/8.

[Johannson6990]

lol your rambling was actually a good explanation for it lol

[cyberflea07]

be aware when counting to se-ven ait has two syllables!might be easyer to just count one two...........................­five six sev......or it might just be 8\8 or 4\4!!

[gooksftw]

"HEEEY im an odd time sig!!" xD

[winnerbaby44]

brain fart xD

[PSPWorldWalkthroughs]

you're an awesome teacher.

[Milkman23]

1231231231234

i just always said triplettriplettriplettripleton­e

[joesatriani1200rulez]

god this lesson was really helpful im more of a guitarist than a drummer but i do play both but this is the most helpful lesson ever ..why? because this dude is funny and he explains them so easily and gives them a quality rather than other people trying to make them complex like when he says dont make them jump out at you like "HEY IM AN ODD TIME SIGNATURE" keep it flowing just amazing keep up the good work dude!!

[michaelsiao]

thx man..!!

[dannyboi9891]

dude your the man

[mingusfan]

I'm going to have to agree with all these people. You are a GREAT teacher! You possess every positive trait that teacher could have. Pleeease keep it up!

[InTrOteaSC]

heroic

[gelskkraun]

is the bottom number always even?

[gelskkraun]

is the bottom number always even?

[gelskkraun]

is the bottom number always even

[lalalalsksksksjdjdjd]

Champ Love the vids !!

[gelskkraun]

is the bottom number always an even one?

[redbritish]

that being said, what is the difference between 3/4 and 6/8? because 3/4 has 6 8th notes in it

[redbritish]

how come in 6/8 the quarter note gets 3 8th notes? because, when counting 6/8 you count 12121212.

[brameijk]

you guys should check out the dvd Extreme Drumming by Marco Minneman(Necrophagist)

He is incredible, he plays odd time signatures so smoothly it makes you doubt he is human:P

[SystematicChaos08]

3:50 dream theater w00t

[smarty3000]

very helpful...thanks

[Adamski986]

After all these years it's clicked. The time signature is merely a fraction. 4/4 meaning four quarters. THAT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO COMPREHEND.

[logodrumline14]

this helped me alot actually! im learning this extremely advanced drum solo by Row Loff Productions and i had like 5 different time signatures, and i didnt know how to count 3 of them, but now i do! thanks!!!

[SotR59]

I could comprehend and assimilate what you are saying despite the speed at which you talk, you are definitely a drummer ;-)

I play guitar and know enough theory (played trumpet in school) to realize that I use "odd time signatures" a lot in my original compositions but not enough to know what they are. You video will help me to break them down.

Thanks

[metalguitar123]

dude. i ove you. im a guitar player and this shit helps alot dude hell yeah keep fuckin bein cool!!!!!!!

[TheEccentricHippie]

Thankyou for this. I'm 14 and I play several instruments, and you really seem to know your stuff. I REALLY agree with what you're saying about using them tastefully and that odd time signatures are used best when they are almost hidden. Rush did that very well. The examples I like to use include Golgi Apparatus by Phish where there's a 7/4 section that you don't notice or Blue Rondo a la Turk by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which is in 9/8. Great video, cleared some stuff up for me!

Thanks!

[RaynierLRV]

mAN u made my life 21 x 16 times easier thanks!!!

[swolocz07]

that 13/8 was used in system of a down - vicinity of obscenity

banana banana banana terracotta

[basketballfg]

I think I get it but I just have one quick thing to clarify if anyone knows the answer. The bottom number need to be 2,4,8, or 16 right? Like 21/16 is twenty-one 16th notes?

[DragonX28]

"I am now in an odd time signature! Odd. Odd!!!"

Haha.

Awesome lesson. =) Helped me understand time signatures more.

I have a question. Can you change the beat of the time signature?

Like, for example, 4/4. Usually, people do like (I'm going to use the . as beats)

. . . .

And make that normal beat like

. . .  .

Or something like that.

(Sorry if it didn't make sense. I'm not a drummer. I'm a guitarist. I just find this interesting. =D).

[werd9495]

that was a lot of help but i have one question at the end when you did the three groups of seven for the 21/16 time signature you did three groups of seven seven sixteenth notes right?

[ollecarlsson]

Dream Theatre.... pfff..... so, when are you gonna upload something WHEN YOU DROP SOME GROOVES YOURSELF, an stop just talk about damn techniques......

[ollecarlsson]

hahahahahaha....... you dropped to basement refering to freakin Mike Portnoy, my god.... can you please listen to some Morgan Agren and Tomas Haake and upload another video....

[danlini2021]

this may be a dumb question, but what about cut time? i suck at it for real! explain that one!

[AhYaOk]

subdivisions is awesome though

[bmschulman]

MATH MATTERS. Stay in school.

[BernieRunns]

I play guitar and was extremely helped by this. thanks

[Hyardacil]

If you play 3+3+3+3+1, you're playing a part of Genesis's Firth of Fifth piano solo. The exact part, is rhythmed exactly like that.

It's a brilliant piece.

[joeyisfunny]

Great lesson, thanks.

[marHAVIK]

damn dude thanks a lot u are a reaaly good teacher........ i dont mean to offend u but i really dint expect to learn anything when first saw u haha....... thanks again and dont be offended i wasnt trying to make fun of u

[Project6ix]

Yup, that IS 31!

And that was suprisingly helpful, i was half excpecting you to sit there just hitting out the bottom number notes ad counting to the top number 123456789bzzzzzzz21!12345..... Yeah, like that. Thanks for all the helpful videos by the way!

[SpennySpencie]

Most of the time really crazy time signatures are broken down into "mixed measures". So instead of counting 21/16 you could do a measure of 11/16 and a 2 measures of 5/16 or 1 measure of 10/16

[HoboCabbage]

i always relate it to a 4 count. if you break down a bar of 4 you would have 16 16th nots. in this case 21/16 you would need one more quarter note beat and a sixteenth to complete the bar. So essentially 21/16 can be thought of as 5/4 with one extra sixteenth note...

1...2...3...4...5.|1...2...3..­.4...5.|

lol 21/16 how ridiculous

[sonesh]

holy crap dude this helped me out so much, i can't believe i've been drumming for years, and i never understood time signatures properly. no teach was able to tell me it properly. i will be making a generous donation to your website soon! respects, ganja4life peace.

[hillbillygenius72]

I was trying to learn Astronime Domine by Pink Floyd and I was completely baffled as to what to do when something isnt in 4/4, thanks!

[Giblets12]

haha yup

[kennethlk5]

is there such thing as a wrong time signature or one that cant work????!?!?!?!?!?

[PTHrules]

anything that isnt over 4,8,16 etc. would be basically impossible to count

[psychogroupie118]

Anything where the bottom cant be divided by 2.

[paiste182]

yes

[Giblets12]

no.

[Sivadega]

Well you could come up with something like 3/7 which has 3 beats per measure and the 7th note gets the beat. Except nobody's really gonna use a 7th note because there's not much of a practical value to them. Or maybe something like 4/1 which really has no point either because you'll just have tons of whole notes... hope that helps slightly. :P

[Albez36]

@kennethlk5

27 2/3

_____

24

Try playing that? 27 and 2/3 16th triplets. Seems crazy, never tried it. But I've written chamber music in 5/8 7/8 10/8 12/8 and 13/8 sort of stuff, and have discussed this with a pro conductor, a concert pianist, a cellist from some orchestra and my music teachers and they all say "any time signature is possible". just anything not over a power of 2 is crazy to count/conduct (eg 8/12)

[FUTTAHSIKK]

this is great! your a great teacher, i'm sure u kick ass at drums. greatvideo man

[marcus19tyhen]

this is a awsome lesson