Mahavishnu´s 'The Dance of Maya' intro/riff

5, 10, or 20 / 8 bc they're all the same thing. I find the most interesting part to be the drum entrance, which takes 3 8ths and plays 2 qrts in their place (3:2).
Every 10 8ths the drums restart to keep up though, so it sounds like 6 1/3 beats of 4/4 rock!! The harmony's interesting too, but they probably have set theory courses on youtube already.

does anyone know the time-signature?

I like to think it in some odd-meter when the riff is alone. WHen band enters with a shuffle then it´s like an usual 12/8 with syncopated notes (where the chord roots lies). Thanks!

Ya the riff is a repeat of 1 bar 3/4, 1 bar 4/4, 1 bar 3/4 again. (3/8, 4/8, 3/8 repeated several times, I don't which way you would write it out, lil help?)

Very helpful, I wrote it out based on your input and it adds up to 10/8 signature at least for the first section.

A: .l.l.l .l.l.l.l .l.l.l :| repeats to me this is a 10/8 signature. Then after the bridge comes the part that rocks with an eight feel, if you count it out, B part adds up to 13 beats and I worked it out to be 13/8 one way to count it is 1,2, 3,. . . . .. , 12, 13 :| , but an easier way to count it is 1-ah, 2-ah, 3-ah, 4-ah, 5-ah, 6-ah, seven :| repeat either way it adds up to 13 distinct beats.

When I lifted it i wrote the A and B section as 3/4 3/4 4/4

then the chromatic decesending thing in 10/4.

Only because it makes it easier to read.

the shuffle section is a 20/8 shuffle.

I wrote it as 6/8,6/8,6/8,2/8.

Only because its easier to read that way.
I like to be nice to my bandmates.

10/8 then it goes to 20

OMG theoryheads had assumed control :-)

Hi Junboy , yes I did change the neck one to a DM EJ Custom. I used a POD XT Live for all videos I put here (metal pack installed - that means more hi-gain models: Diezel, Bogner, Engl etc. The Quiet Riot solo with the AES I used the Peavy 5150. For the 'Battle Axe' song I used the Plexi Variac if I´m not wrong.

Thanks and keep tuned!