Drum Time Signatures

 4/4

A 4/4 time signature which is often referred as common time, it is one of the most commonly used rhythmic structures in music nowadays. The top number (4) tells you there are four beats in each bar, while the bottom number (4) indicates that each beat is a quarter note. Together, this means that every measure contains four steady quarter-note beats. Because of it's simplicity, 4/4 time is used across countless genres, from pop and rock to classical and hip-hop. 4/4 has largely influenced my playing, as it is the main time signature I play. this is because I was influenced by drummers like Stewart Copeland (The Police), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac) and Ringo Starr (The Beatles) who all primarily play in 4/4. After coming across "Billie Jean" it gave me the idea of having a strong sounding beat in my track and that's what stood out the most for me in this song.

An example of a song that is played in 4/4 is Billie Jean by Michael Jackson:

Summary:

-The drumming in the song is a classic pop/funk beat which includes a closed high-hat, snare and kick drum.

-The kick-drum anchors beats 1 and 3 and the snare strongly accents beats 2 and 4 which is common in 4/4.

-The song is played firmly in 4/4 but also includes:

-syncopation

-sixteenth-note precision

-sparse arrangement

-rhythmic vocals

-repetition

3/4

The 3/4 time signature contains three beats per measure rather than 4 compared to the 4/4 time signature. It is commonly counted as "1-2-3, 1-2-3", creating a flowing, circular rhythm. In written music, the top number "3" indicates the number of beats in each bar, while the bottom number "4" shows that the quarter note represents one beat. One of the most recognisable characteristics of 3/4 time is its strong emphasis on the first beat of each measure, this pattern often associates with stepping or spinning moves in dance music. Historically, 3/4 became especially important in European classical music during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was widely used in court dances and social dances, eventually becoming the rhythm of the waltz, which was mainly popular in Austria and Germany during the late 1700s and early 1800s. I haven't got much experience with playing in 3/4 although my previous drum grading books included  improvisation tracks that were in 3/4. 

Because of my lack of experience playing in this time signature, I decided to research different songs to inspire me for my tracks, the song that matched the style/sound I was looking for the most was "Please, please, please, let me get what I want" by The smiths, even though this song doesn't include drums, the rhythm really inspired me.

6/8

A 6/8 time signature is a rhythmic pattern commonly used in music that contains six eighth notes per measure. The top number, "6", tells you there are six beats in each bar, while the bottom number, "8", means the eighth note gets one beat. Unlike simple time signatures such as 4/4, 6/8 is considered a compound meter which is a type of musical meter where each main beat is naturally divided into three smaller notes instead of two. Instead of counting six separate beats evenly, drummers typically play the two main beats emphasised on counts 1 and 4. 6/8 is widely used in many musical styles, including folk, classical, rock ballads, blues, and Celtic music. It is especially effective for creating a sense of movement, emotion, or sway. Songs in 6/8 often feel gentle, dramatic, or even hypnotic depending on the tempo and instrumentation. 

Again, I personally haven't got much experience with playing in 6/8, although my band does have a song that was written in 6/8. When my band came up with the idea to do a song in 6/8, I wasn't really sure how to play it but after hearing the rhythm of the guitar over and over again, I just casually played a long until I had a steady and flowing beat. I mainly heard drummers play consisting triplet patterns on the ride cymbal or hi-hat, therefore I built my own beat from that pattern which turned out to flow nicely throughout the song.

This is my bands song "The bar"

9/8

A 9/8 time signature is a compound meter similar to 6/8, but instead it contains nine eighth notes per measure. The top number, 9, indicates how many eighth-note counts are in each bar, while the bottom number, 8, shows that the eighth note is the basic unit of measurement. Rather than feeling all nine notes individually, 9/8 is usually grouped into three main beats, each divided into three eighth notes. 9/8 is often used in classical music, progressive rock, jazz, folk traditions, and cinematic scores. Depending on the tempo and accent pattern, it can feel energetic and driving, or mysterious and uneven. Compared to time signatures like 4/4 and 3/4, 9/8 isn't very commonly used nowadays.

 I don't hate any experience with playing in 9/8, therefore I listened to a few different songs in that time signature in order to inspire me when creating my own track. I listened to two different song examples the first one was "Crunge" by led zeppelin, which I thought the drum groove was pretty advanced and it was hard for to keep in time with the counting, therefore I found a different example. The next example I found was "I hung my head" by Sting, this song was pretty straight forward to listen too as the beat was quite simple which made it easier to understand how to count in 9/8, it also gave me an idea on what beat I could write for my track.

I also found this video to give me more examples of grooves in 9/8 to help me write a drum groove for my track. I found this video very helpful as the creator went through every difficulty levels of grooves, and also taught me how to count in 9/8 properly which is just counting in three's.

5/4

A 5/4 time signature is a rhythmic pattern in music that contains five quarter-note beats in each measure. Unlike more common time signatures such as 4/4 or 3/4, 5/4 is considered an irregular or asymmetrical meter because the beats are divided unevenly, giving the music a distinctive and sometimes unpredictable sound. The top number (5) tells you there are five beats in each bar, while the bottom number (4) tells you the quarter note gets one beat. The 5/4 signature is widely used in classical, jazz, hip hop, R&B, jazz fusion, rock, progressive rock, country and in musical scores. One of the most famous examples is the song "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck or the mission impossible theme song, which helped popularise the time signature in modern music. Most musicians count 5/4 as 3+3+2+2, or 4+1. To help me write a beat in 5/4, I found this youtube video to help me with the counting because that is what I was struggling with the most.

This video gave me a much better idea on how to write in 5/4 as a whole and how exactly to count it.

This was the song example that inspired me the most when creating my own 5/4 track:

"Take five" by Dave Brubeck

12/8

The 12/8 time signature is also a "compound quadruple" meter commonly used in music to create a swinging, or triplet-based rhythm. The top number, (12) tells us there are twelve beats in each measure, while the bottom number (8) means the eighth note receives one beat. However, instead of counting all twelve beats individually, musicians usually group them into four sets of three eighth notes. This gives 12/8 music a strong pulse that feels like "1-and-a, 2-and-a, 3-and-a, 4-and-a". Because of it's natural triplet feel, the 12/8 time signature is especially useful for music that needs movement and groove, which makes it  popular in many styles of music, including blues, jazz, gospel, rock ballads, and slow classical pieces. It creates a smooth and rolling feel that is often more expressive than simple time signatures like 4/4. Songs written in 12/8 frequently have a shuffle or swing rhythm, making the music feel energetic and emotional at the same time. The origins of 12/8 can be traced back to medieval and Renaissance music, when composers began experimenting with more complex rhythmic patterns in vocal and instrumental works. During the Baroque period in the 17th and early 18th centuries, composers frequently used 12/8 in dances and pastoral music. Although, in the Classical and Romantic eras, the time signature continued to grow in popularity. Whereas, when jazz evolved, musicians expanded on these rhythms to produce swinging and syncopated styles.

The song I have chosen as an example to help me write my track is "Hold the line" by Toto. I picked this song because the drumming in the track is very similar to my playing in general and also it portrays playing in 12/8 to be quite straightforward so I am hoping it helps writing my track in 12/8 a bit simpler since I haven't played a long to this time signature before. I noticed that the drummer is playing the 12 notes specifically on the high-hat, which I intend to do the same.

7/8

The 7/8 time signature is a complex and irregular/asymmetrical meter which includes 7 eighth notes and beats that are usually uneven which creates a "lopsided" rhythmic feel. The top number (7) tells you there are seven eighth-note counts per bar, whereas the bottom number (8) means the eighth note is the basic rhythmic unit. Drummers typically group 7/8 into patterns such as 2+2+3, 3+2+2, or 2+3+2, producing shifting accents that make the rhythm feel dynamic. 7/8 is often associated with film and video game sores, progressive rock, jazz, classical compositions, traditional folk music from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. It's unique flow challenges both performers and listeners, creating music that feels driving, and highly expressive.

The simplest song and the song that continuously played in 7/8 I could find was "Dreaming in metaphors" by Seal. I did originally listen to "Money" by Pink floyd, but it was in 7/4 rather than 7/8. I found counting in this beat as 1e and 2 e and 3 e and a 4 e, leaving out the last "and" which adds up to 7 beats. Or 1+2 1+2 1+2+3. In order to help me get a better understanding on how this specific groove is played and counted, I watched this video and played a long to give me some ideas on beates for my own 7/8 track.

"Dreaming in metaphors" by Seal:

References:

Aichele, M. (2018). Understanding Time Signatures and Meters: A Musical Guide. [online] Liberty Park Music. Available at: https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/musical-time-signatures/.

George, G.S. (n.d.). Time signatures explained: the common and not so common ones. [online] Piano Blog by Skoove - Piano Practice Tips. Available at: https://www.skoove.com/blog/time-signatures-explained/.

Introduction, A. (2023). Daniel Blows Music. [online] Daniel Blows Music. Available at: https://www.danielblows.co.uk/blog/time-signatures-an-introduction-feb23 [Accessed 10 May 2026].

The Note. (2023). 7 Common Time Signatures Explained | Pianote. [online] Available at: https://www.pianote.com/blog/common-time-signatures/.

‌Wikipedia. (2022). Time signature. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_signature.

Youtu.be. (2026). Available at: https://youtu.be/VJDCD5hJii4?si=0cSF6jRJiSxJYKgH [Accessed 12 May 2026].

‌Youtu.be. (2026). Available at: https://youtu.be/P45jlDNTf5Q?si=hKtM2NzlBPth8pj8 [Accessed 10 May 2026].

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