The title of the book that sponsors this video is ironic for the fact that if anyone has been watching this channel on UA-cam for any length of time, then we’ve already been taught so much about music theory by Mr. Bennett that it's too late for us to know what we need to know before we learn music theory.
Not so. I know no music theory but find it very interesting and I hope it can improve my music. BTW David's ads are interesting as his presentation makes one see the value of the product.
@@judih.8754 Agreed. Also, I'd need to read the book before I came to any conclusions about it. (And I think I will read it -- sounds very interesting!)
I'm impressed by your ability to have found the most "mad hair" picture of Kate Bush possible. And Macca's hair's a bit unruly there too, come to think of it. Is it "mad hair Monday" or something?
A couple of Queen examples: Sweet Lady was Brian May's attempt to write a 'heavy' song in 3/4. And Freddie's song The Millionaire Waltz is also a 3/4 song - and it's phenomenal.
@@turnerIott my favourite 'elaborate song' by them along with The March of The Black Queen. The counterpoint in the last part are the cherry on top to all the beauty that preceded it
The Beatles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"...uses a great combo of 3/4 and 4/4...the verses in 3/4 and the LUCY IN THE SKY part in 4/4...gives it a great expansive feel to the chorus.
Joe Cocker's version of 'With a Little Help from My Friends" converts the original 4/4 to 3/4. In that case, the result is a harder, more rock and roll sounding version, rather then the other way around.
@@zarzaparrilla67 Watch the video mentioned at the end. It is super easy if you count the pulses instead of just the number of notes. 1 . 2 . 3 . versus 1 . . 2 . .
@@KarstenJohansson That's not an objective difference though. It just depends on how you choose to feel it, because either way it's: _1_ 2 3 _2_ 2 3 which can be both 1 - - 2 - - and 1 2 3 1 2 3 It depends on where you decide the accent (or as you put it, the pulse) is, which might be something you feel subjectively or something you actively choose when writing it. Even the fact that it's based on divisions with the prime number 3 isn't objective as it's based on cues in the music like the patterns in the drums and harmonic rhythm etc which aren't objective since they depend on your perception of them, but it's a little bit more obvious than the 3/4 6/8 debate and saying it's in divisions with the prime number 5 would be pretty absurd.
@@althealligator1467 Try counting Minuet as one two two two three two and see how ridiculous the beat comes out, and how hard it is to keep track of what beat you are even on.
@@KarstenJohansson Sure, but that doesn't make it objective. It just makes it a more efficient way to analyse the music. Try counting something that has obvious cues that it's divided into groups of 3 in groups of 5; doable, but you're gonna have a helluva hard time.
I see by the sheet music that I have it is written as 3/4 ... but I think it sounds more like 6/8 with that "side to side" feel on each of the subsequent 3 beats - as described in the video David Bennett did on this a couple of years ago (go to 3m22s there): ua-cam.com/video/N4q2kBe82-o/v-deo.html However as he says in that video, it's easy to interchange - like with his example of "America" by Simon & Garfunkle (at 5m10s over there). But I feel Suspended In Gaffa is more "side-to-side" feel.
Nice to hear Blue Danube and Chopin in the mix. The jazz waltzes could be notated in 9/8. "I Me Mine" comes to mind as a Beatles song with the opening section in 3/4. I believe John and Yoko were dancing to it in the Let It Be film.
In the Get Back film George plays the band his first verse and John criticizes him for bringing a waltz. "Run along, son. We're a rock and roll band." George said, "I don't care if you don't want it. I'll put it in a musical." Maybe that's why George later added the revved up chorus. He never did write another verse. John was conspicuously absent when the band recorded it for LET IT BE.
@@stickguyy just from a quick scan of different transcriptions most people did 3/4 but tbh i can see an argument for having it in either 3/4 or 6/8 or 12/8
I had trouble with a 6/8 song and learned it without counting it correctly. My piano teacher corrected me, but it still wasn't clear. Then I watched your video and it was crystal clear. Merci.
Pink + White by Frank Ocean is another modern example of a song in 3/4 and while it does feel slightly 6/8 with the piano at moments it is definitely in 3/4
If you are wondering, the chords are (melody starts at B): Cmaj7 Fmaj7/C Cmaj7 Fmaj7/C Bm7 Bbdim7 A11 D7 (repeat once) Fmaj7/C Em7 Dm7 Cmaj7 Fmaj7/C Em7 Eb7 Dm7 G
My favorite recent song in 3/4 is 'Concorde' by 'Black Country, New Road'. It's such a gorgeous song in itself, but moreover, I think it encompasses the 3/4 feel brilliantly.
@@AlexSmith-rb3rk I'm pretty sure TPWHITB is in 3/4 and Good Will Hunting is in 6/8 for the verses and 4/4 in the chorus. Amazing songs nonetheless. I've run out of superlatives to praise that album. What a band! (even after Isaac's departure)
I just recently stumbled across them, and the first song was this one, a really nice live performance. I love how they (at least in the songs I saw) were really sort of playing against type, with often quite proggy drums against a quite pastoral folky tune.
The first song that comes to mind in 3/4 time is Rebel Waltz by The Clash off the Sandinista album from 1980. A underrated piece of Morricone-esque music.
Great video! Nice that you’re still finding time signatures to make videos about. I would suggest a video on the I - bVII - vi - bVI progression (or what you might call the DVNO progression). I always found the descending mixture of major and minor very cool! Some songs also change the last chord, but the sound is still similar. Edit: Here's some songs I found: DVNO - Justice Brain Stew - Green Day Hide Another Mistake - The 88 (Haunt You also uses a similar progression) Believe X Believe - Takafumi Fujino Laura - Scissor Sisters Dreamin' - Weezer Captain Square - Yoko Shimomura (from The Guardian Legend) Gym Theme from Pokemon Gold & Silver Title Theme from Hudson's Adventure Island III Ending Theme from Operation C For the Fans - Toby Fox (from Undertale) (slightly different progression, I - bVII - vi - bVII) Troian Beauty - Nobuo Uematsu (from Final Fantasy IV) (slightly different progression, I - bVII - vi - IV) Map Ref. 41°N 93°W - Wire (slightly different progression, I - bVII - vi - IV) If anyone finds any more, let me know!
😱Amazed you didn't include any of the many Beatles' examples of entire songs (and bits and pieces) that feature the 3/4 time. As per Steve Hoffman's: I'll Be Back (take 2 from Anthology) This Boy (probably more 6/8 than 3/4) A Taste Of Honey Baby's In Black Yes It Is (another 6/8?) Norwegian Wood Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite (middle part) Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (verses) She's Leaving Home Happiness Is A Warm Gun ("I need a fix.." part) Long, Long, Long Good Night I Want You (She's So Heavy) the chorus/end riff I Me Mine (verses) Dig A Pony
Great video! Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) used 3/4 time for their single "Made of Orleans" which was the waltz version of two songs they wrote about Joan of Arc. They also used 3/4 on a couple of albums tracks - International and Bondage of Fate.
My favourite example of a song in 3/4 is 'My Time' by bo en. It was used in one of my most favourite games and it just suits perfectly (i'll let you search why for yourself, beware spoilers). And one interesting fact about it is that it actually switches to 4/4 when it starts to sound crazy and messed up, in theory, similarly to what you said about 4/4's ability to portray pumped up rhythms. Thank you for this video David, we learn stuff every day thank to you, even when it's about more common meters like 3/4 🥰
"The last waltz" by "Engelbert Humperdinck", in 1967, another popular hit that uses 3/4. Then, in 1970, the winner of Eurovision, "All kinds of everything" by "Dana". 😊
Hi David! Love your videos. I would like you to make a video about songs that have the same structure. Or anything about song structure could be very interesting.
Two examples come to mind. "Golden Brown" has 3 bars of 3/4 with one bar of 4/4 for the intro then settles into 3/4 for the the main part of the song. "That's What You Get" by Paramore has the verses in 3/4 and the choruses in 4/4. The bass has a 3+3+2 semiquaver feel over beats 1&2 with a 3 beat added. In the second verse the drums simulate a 4/4 feel by playing bass snare bass/ snare bass snare/ etc on each quarter note.
Omg I was hoping someone would mention Golden Brown, was screaming it at my screen baha (though the last bar being 4/4 might have disqualified it from this video tbf)
Great video as always. When I saw Paul McCartney in the thumbnail, I could only think of "The Frog Chorus", totally forgetting about "Mull of Kintyre". Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses" is a good one.
Nice video. I play a lot in 3/4 as many Irish songs I sing were written that way. However, the first pop song that came to my mind was The Beatles' Norwegian Wood. While it sounds like a 3/4 when played, in written form, it's actually a 12/8 time signature.
Trust your ears more than sheet music, especially when written for songs in which the original composers didn't know how to write or read notation. If it sounds like faster 3/4 to you, then it's most likely that. As 6/8 or 12/8 starts to speed up, it loses its pendulum effect at faster tempos.
My husband and I love your channel, David. A song that starts in 4/4 and moves (after 60 seconds or so) to 6/8, we think, is a gorgeous song by the Cuban band Los Zafiros. The name of the song is He Venido. Truly sublime!
BTW one great example of transforming the 3/4 to 4/4 is Beatles' version of My Bonnie - their first commercially released record, that brought Brian Epstein to them - and the rest is history :)
I love straight ahead 3/4 time, where you count it evenly without the swung/waltz feel. In scandinavian folk music we use the straight 3/4 in polskas and slängpolskas, which are common folk dances and the tunes often have an even feel, even though they have an uneven number of beats per bar.
@@thiagofigueiredo2976 Here are some good videos to check out to hear how the pulse sounds in context ua-cam.com/video/wRDzdOy_hCk/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/_GgtVxKIhZI/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/NFYIONrQZTA/v-deo.html
A good use of 3/4 in rock is “Vigil” by Fish. The song is mostly in 4/4 but it slowly builds into the chorus, which is a crescendo in straight 3/4 that feels like it has way more urgency than everything else.
Here are a few examples: Fake Empire by The National Above And Beyond by Deep Purple She’s Leaving Home by The Beatles And 3 songs from Owl City’s latest album -Under The Circus Lights -Sons of Thunder -The Meadow Lark
Fake Empire to my ear starts out mostly in four (or maybe four against three?) and slowly morphs into being mostly in three. But the length of the measure I think stays constant (unlike "Happiness is a Warm Gun, which is four against three in terms of emphasis/downbeats but with each beat having constant duration.) It's complicated, anyhow. I'd love to hear an analysis of this.
@@everydayispoetry That is true. Fake Empire is primarily based on a four against three polyrhythm. David covered it in a video about polyrhythms a few years ago
Polish folk dances are nearly all in triple time (3/4 or 3/8), especially the most well-known ones - polonez (polonaise) and mazurek (mazurka), which you mentioned. The first one is very often used in historical movies, as it was a big part of balls in the past.
I believe “Rock n’ Roll Suicide” by David Bowie is another example, and it seems like it uses the tempo to help build a kind of “laying to rest” mood. I think that helps the song fit well as the closer to an album.
The first song I learned in 3/4 was "Where Do You Go to My Lovely" by Peter Sarstedt, and since I play ukulele, I very soon after learned "With Whom to Dance" by the Magnetic Fields. For more recent examples, dream pop duo Beach House are very fond of 3/4; both straight ("Zebra") and swung ("On the Sea").
Mexican 'norteño' music (or 'música norteña') is often in 3/4 time. 'Corridos' and songs performed by small bands (grupos norteños) or large bands (banda) are usually in this time signature. A popular 'banda' song that was used as the main song for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II videogame is in 3/4 time. The song is called '141' and performed by Banda MS.
Enya's "Caribbean Blue" is in 3/4... I think "Greensleeves" is actually in 6/8, and so are all the other song examples I'm thinking of, but Enya's sheet music says it's in 3/4.
My favorite piece in 3/4 is probably Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2. We played it in my orchestra this year and my teacher called it a haunted merry go round song, which I just love.
Is there some other name for that? If I search for _Shostakovich Waltz No. 8_ (or some reasonable variation), the best I can come up with is his Waltz No. 2, which seems to be at least a few waltzes short, or “String Quartet No. 8,” which doesn’t seem very waltz-like, being in 4/4 time.
@@jeff__w i accidentally combined Waltz No. 2 with String Quartet No. 8. I meant to say Waltz No 2, but I guess I associate the number eight with Shostakovich because I also really like string quartet number eight, so I accidentally called it waltz number eight.
The Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends" from Sgt Pepper is of course in 4. But somehow Joe Cocker transformed it into 3/4 for his recording, and is the only Beatles' cover that I prefer over the original.
Jimmy Eat World's "For Me This is Heaven" is my favorite rock song in 3/4. A couple others I can think of for rock/pop are "Romulus" by Sufjan Stevens," and ""Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep At the Wheel" by Barenaked Ladies (though that could be considered 6/8 based on the drums)/
I was thinking of these songs… Billy Joel- She’s Always A Woman Eagles- Pretty Maids All In A Row Nick Drake- One Of These Things First Pearl Jam- Nothingman Pearl Jam- Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town Queen- A Winter’s Tale Weezer- My Name Is Jonas
I’m not sure if anyone’s commented this yet, but my fave Bob Dylan’s done a bunch of songs in 3/4. One I can especially name off the top of my head is “Fourth Time Around” off of Blonde on Blonde, the response to John Lennon’s “Norwegian Wood.” Super hypnotizing and catchy, and imo one of the best songs on that album. Love it so much 😍💖 Can’t really remember many others though 🙃 Maybe if I go back through, I’ll find some more, and you probably can too ❤
Thank you for your blunt knowledge, kind stranger 💕 Actually counted it earlier, and I never knew that was in 3/4, so thank you for helping me appreciate it even more 💖
The Last Waltz- by Engelbert Humperdinck, Ooh Baby Baby- by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Every Little Bit Hurts and I'll always love you- both by Brenda Holloway, Love (Makes Me Do foolish things) Martha Reeves and the Vandella's, Forever by Marvin Gaye, Just Loving You- Kim Weston
Beatles - Baby’s in Black, Dig a Pony, Yer Blues, I Me Mine (verses, could be 3/4 or 6/8), Long Long Long, Good Night, We Can Work It Out (parts), Benefit of Mr. Kite (parts), Lucy in the Sky (verses) Elton John - I Need You to Turn To, Elton’s Song Billy Joel - Piano Man, Downeaster Alexa Rainbow - Self Portrait Kansas - Hold On Queen - Millionaire’s Walts, Sweet Lady Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (most of the song) Allman Brothers - Cross to Bear, Whippin’ Post Nazareth - Guilty (Paul Newman’s song - but could be written in 4/4, in triplets)
Other 3/4 classic rock songs. Some of my personal fave rock songs in 3/4 (sometimes 6/8) time signature There are many others in 3/4. * Stranglers - Golden Brown * Eagles - Take It To The Limit * Goo Goo Dolls - Iris * REM - Everybody Hurts * Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gun * Beatles - Baby's In Black * Beatles - Norwegian Wood * Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds * Beatles - I Me Mine * Beatles - I Want You (She's So Heavy) mix of signatures but the long coda is 3/4 * Beach Boys - Surfer Girl * Journey - Open Arms * Queen - We Are The Champions * Many artists - A Taste Of Honey * System of A Down - Lonely Day * Billy Joel - Piano Man * Corrs - Runaway * Tom Waits - Innocent When You Dream * Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe * Muse - Blackout * Bon Jovi - Bed Of Roses * Bob Dylan - Times They Are A Changin' * Julie Rogers - The Wedding * Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight
My favorite waltz of the modern day has to go to Cojum Dip’s Waltz In E Major, Opus 15 “Moon Waltz” I won’t spoil the surprise for readers who want to go listen for themselves, but you could say it has a little more punch than your average classical piece. Cojum Dip’s collaboration with Joe Hawley on the song Aristotle’s Denial has the same time signature and a similar appeal for those wanting more, although it definitely didn’t knock me flat on my back quite like my first time listening to Moon Waltz did. I cannot express how much I love that song.
Hey David, could you make a video on the Where Is My Mind chord progression? It's I-vi-III-IV, though a more common variation is the same progression but starting on the vi chord, like vi-III-IV-I Other songs that use it are: - Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - Cradles - Sub Urban - Cigarette Duet - Princess Chelsea - Say It Ain't So - Weezer - Cake - Melanie Martinez - Good in Goodbye - Madison Beer
The Just the Two of Us progression also has those chords... the basic major version (seen fairly often in jpop recently) is IV-III7-vi-I (with some variation on the end). Of course, jazzed up its IVΔ7-III7-vi7-I7, the III7 just seems to often be used when the others aren't (I wonder if that's also true of songs using the progressions you're talking about). The original Just the Two of Us is minor (much rarer in jpop)... basically VI7-V7-i7 (ii7/Vi V7/VI) VI7-V7-i7, noting the 251 turnaround between pairs of repetitions (emphasized here by notating them of /VI, which is the chord at the start).
@@em_the_bee It did, but it's only the "waaaaay out in the water see it swimming" line. So that's I-III-IV-iv followed by vi-V, but the rest of the song is I-vi-III-IV.
@@vib80 Yeah that's true, it's a different chord progression using the same four chords, though the one is dominant. Like I always say, it's always easier to look at chords from the perspective of the relative major than the relative minor because the relative minor gives you 3 unnecessary flats, because we arbitrarily decided to base our entire system of scale degrees on the major scale such that the major scale has all natural degrees. There's not really any good reason for that, though, but since it's the case, looking at chord progressions from the relative major is much easier. From the perspective of the relative minor, Just the Two of Us would be: bVI V i bvii bIII7 Whereas from the perspective of the relative major, it would simply be: IV III vi v I7 With no flats.
I was not aware the intro from Kiss from a Rose was in 3/4, I can't help it but still feel it in 6/8 like the rest of the song because of the phrasing lasting two bars. Basically we can divide a bar of 6/8 into two measures of 3/4 as long as we keep accenting beat 1 of each (given the phrasing remains constant throughout the song). By the way, thanks so much for the time signature playlist; it's definitively the best source of meters for reference for years to come! 😉
Beatles "We Can Work It Out" moves to 3/4 in the bridge. Frank Zappa's "Sofa # 2" is also in 3/4. Bob Dylan's "Fourth Time Around", too. A "norwegian wood" parody - which itself sounds kind of 3/4 or 6/8 (I wouldn't know the difference).
I find it a bit in game music, where having different "feels" is significant to the art. One my my favourites would be from Mountain of Faith (Touhou), Stage 4 boss (Aya) theme, Youkai no Yama ~ Mysterious Mountain. What's really nice is that the main melody is in 3/4, but the refain/B-melody is in 4/4... it gives a big kick of energy when the change happens, without needing to up tempo or pitch. It also to fits the boss well.
Great site! I love your explanations of music. I think "Wintertime Love" by the Doors is in 3/4 time, as is "Old Country Waltz" (of course) by Neil Young. Bob Dylan has two on the "New Morning" album: "Winterlude" and "Time Passes Slowly".
A song that has been the most listened on spotify lately and is in 3/4 time throughout the entire song is "Ella Baila Sola" by "Peso Pluma" and "Eslabon Armado"
Some early Leonard Cohen songs are in 3/4 times (Sisters of Mercy, Bird on a Wire...) as well as some pure folksy young Bob Dylan (With God On Our Side). And The Clash "Rebel Waltz" is, as you may have guessed, on a waltz rhythm.
Examples of 3/4: "Hollow Talk" by The Choir of Young Believers, theme music to "The Bridge" TV series "Are you Lonesome Tonight?" - Elvis "Eclipse", and various parts of "Shine on..." - Pink Floyd "The Queen and the Soldier" - Suzanne Vega "Not the girl you think you are" - Crowded House "America" and "Old Friends" - Simon & Garfunkel
I feel like Normal Christian music is the most common type of 3/4 music (Still being made today) because it is meant to be calm. (I would know this, because one, I live right next to a church (In the mornings when I go to my school bus, I have to walk up the hill and Stand next to the Church's Cemetery until my bus comes) and I used to go to church, and I would listen to those kind of songs a lot)
My personal favorite example of a 3/4 song is I Want You (She’s So Heavy) by The Beatles. Also switches between 4/4 and 3/4, but I find it interesting how that song utilizes 3/4. Each measure in its chorus starts with a pronounced opening beat that’s accentuated by the shortness of a 3/4 measure, compared to 4/4. It almost gives the audible illusion of thumping footsteps, spaced-out and pounding. A 4/4 notation would have made the chorus feel even more spaced-out, but as a result, it wouldn’t feel nearly as driving. Instead, they decided to use 4/4 time for the other verses, giving them a more relaxed, jazzy feel. Not one of John Lennon’s more lyrically complex compositions, but definitely one of his most effectively atmospheric.
“Piano Man” 3/4 Billy Joel “Fooled around and fell in love” 6/8 “Elvin Bishop “Lights” 6/8 “Journey “ Take it to the Limit”- 3/4 Eagles (swung a little “….
Hi David, thanks for the video. I really liked the intro demonstrating where the drum 🥁 falls on each beat. Would you be able to do a video for each time signature? For example, in 4/4 is it bass snare bass snare 🔢? Whilst I understand time signatures theoretically, I have difficulty hearing it in real time on a song. I can hear 3/8 6/8 and 12/8 but it’s mostly the 8 part and I can’t tell the difference.
I was a drummer in an early 2000's cover band, playing mostly classic rock hits with a few modern examples. One night at a show, the band's former drummer showed up, and during a break in our set they had a happy reunion and introduced the guy to me. Apparently he was not only a drummer but a great crooner as well. He came up on stage to sing Journey's Open Arms, and did I know it? Of course I did! I cut my teeth as a young drummer mostly playing along to my favorite album, Journey's Escape, of which Open Arms is the final track. Now, this cocky singer/drummer asks me, "do you know it's in 3/4 time? Don't screw it up by playing it in 4/4 time." Now to me, I was never a very good school musician, but I could pretty much listen to anything once and copy it. I guess people call that a fake drummer, but whatever, I knew how to play the song and we pulled it off just fine with no rehearsal, live on stage. Ever since then, whenever I hear that song I can't help but think about it's time signature. I did meet Steve Smith once, who is my drum hero, but it was before my time with this covers band. Anyone who has ever listened to Journey's album Raised on Radio (the one without him on it) knows how incredibly talented and valuable he was to that band.
The Sarraband one is almost certainly an influence on one of my favorite tracks in one of my favorite games, when it slows down during the Hollow Knight fight.
3/4 is to me the uncanny wally to 6/8. 6/8 is probably my favorit time signatur, it just feels so smooth to me, like a big wave. 3/4 on the other hand is one of my least favorit time signaturs, to me it feels like bad imitation or a parody of 6/8. But in songs lige Metallica - One it feels to me more like 6/8 that 3/4, so I can still clearly not tell the difference.
Maybe Everyday by Slade and Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce. Having said that, I'm a guitarist, not a pianist, so its all 3/4, or 4/4 to me ! Keep the good work up mate, Richie in Cyprus (but previously a Brummie)
In 1965, the famous Minuet in G, by the composer formerly known as JS Bach, became pop smash "A Lovers' Concerto" by The Toys, rendered in a brisk 2/4 meter.
"Are You Lonesome Tonight" is an obvious one. I also hear "The End" from "The Black Parade" in 3/4 rather than 6/8. Same with "The Thin Ice" and "One of My Turns" from "The Wall".
Nick Cave have written in 3/4: "People ain't no good" and "The Carny", perhaps more. First I thought "Where the wild roses grow" and "Henry Lee" also belonged there, but after seeing your 3/4 vs 6/8 video I assume they are in the latter.
Once again an amazingly interesting and fascinating video😊In a nutshell, with no regard to musical styles, it is clear, that 4/4 is the most common time singnature, 3/4 has as clearly its stronghold in the music😊
Play Me by Neil Diamond is in 3/4 time. He couldn't decide whether it should be in 3/4 or 4/4 time. His guitarist, Richard Bennett helped him to decide on 3/4 time.
A popular French song in 3/4 is Love Story by Indila but as most people you could perceive the song to be in a slow 12/8 since it is a rather fast(er) 3/4. Another popular French song in 3/4 is the title track of the movie Ratatouille Le Festin
Great video, as always! 👏 Other song examples: Bjork, "It's Oh So Quiet". Blur, "The Debt Collector" The Commodores, "Three Times a Lady". Jean Michel Jarre, "Equinoxe Part 3".
Sofa by Zappa - Sweet Lady and Millionaire Waltz by Queen. - La valse d'Amélie by Yann Tiersen - You mentioned Army Dreamers but Kate Bush also wrote Ran Tan Waltz, Sat In you Lap, Symphony In Blue and Suspended in Gaffa in 3/4
I love your videos. Could you please do one of these on 2/4 time? I've been studying "I'm So Tired" by the Beatles and the chorus is in 2/4 while the verses are in 4/4. Just an absolutely stunning song. I'm still trying to understand what makes the chorus of that song so incredibly pleasing to the ear...
I'm so tired is entirely in 4/4. I mean you could technically divide a 4/4 bar into 2 2/4 bars, so it could also be interely in 2/4 or the verse in 2/4 and the chorus in 4/4 or viceversa but for this song is better to write it interely in 4/4. 2/4 is more common in marching bands and military songs, in rock/pop music is virtually non-existant. EDIT: I listened to the song carefully and it has a random 2/4 bar inbetween the 4/4 bars just before the chorus, so it isn't interiley in 4/4.
"She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles; "Wintertime Love" by The Doors; "Back Street Girl" by The Rolling Stones; "Porpoise Mouth" by Country Joe & The Fish...
If you wanted to I'm sure you could have done a video on this time signature solely on the stuff Paul McCartney and the Beatles have done. Although I understand doing it with multiple artist songs makes it more pleasing to a wider audience especially with the algorithms. Anyway loved the video well researched as always
Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Love is a Camera is one I love, it's a kind of folk-story song in a steady 3/4 almost throughout, that only switches into 4/4 for an accelerating outro
Led Zeppelin has quite a few bluesy songs in 3/4, e.g. You Shook Me, Dazed and Confused (original by Jake Holmes, as you know) and Since I've Been Loving You
I found a song called Three of a Perfect Pair by King Crimson and I looked up the time signature and it said 1/4? I’ve never really heard of that time signature being used so is there any way you can make a video about it
There are a couple of other 3/4 rock songs, like Farewell by Avantasia, Addicted by Kelly Clarkson, All I Need by Within Temptation, and Nightfall by Blind Guardian. They are often in the form of a power waltz.
Check out What You Need to Know Before you Learn Music Theory by Eric Fine: www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYRNBTKN 📖🎼🎶
The title of the book that sponsors this video is ironic for the fact that if anyone has been watching this channel on UA-cam for any length of time, then we’ve already been taught so much about music theory by Mr. Bennett that it's too late for us to know what we need to know before we learn music theory.
Not so. I know no music theory but find it very interesting and I hope it can improve my music. BTW David's ads are interesting as his presentation makes one see the value of the product.
@@judih.8754 Agreed. Also, I'd need to read the book before I came to any conclusions about it. (And I think I will read it -- sounds very interesting!)
I'm impressed by your ability to have found the most "mad hair" picture of Kate Bush possible.
And Macca's hair's a bit unruly there too, come to think of it. Is it "mad hair Monday" or something?
@@bobsala7780 I bought it, was disappointed. There are better books out there. It would be more useful as a classroom workbook.
Seeing David do a normal 3/4 video after time signatures like 11/8 is truly phenomenal
It'd be ridiculous if he posted something from his declined videos or archive idk
Here to say almost the same thing!
Yes haha
I’m just waiting for 7/8
@@roryturner9773 I could have sworn he already did that! He may have called it 7 4. I seem to remember one that covered both of those.
A couple of Queen examples: Sweet Lady was Brian May's attempt to write a 'heavy' song in 3/4. And Freddie's song The Millionaire Waltz is also a 3/4 song - and it's phenomenal.
The Millionaire Waltz is incredible. All 4 of them did an amazing job on that track
In my opinion Millionaire Waltz is one of their best songs, period.
'I'm in love with my car' ? although strictly 6/8
@@spookydirt 6/8 doesn't count. That would expand the list a lot
@@turnerIott my favourite 'elaborate song' by them along with The March of The Black Queen. The counterpoint in the last part are the cherry on top to all the beauty that preceded it
i thought he ran out of time signatures
Never
Cant forget 50/100
Wait until he makes a video talking about 108/64
technically, time signatures are infinite. Countably infinite in fact unless you include irrational time signatures.
Nope. He hasn’t even gotten to the rhythms of Meshuggah and Dream Theater yet.
The Beatles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"...uses a great combo of 3/4 and 4/4...the verses in 3/4 and the LUCY IN THE SKY part in 4/4...gives it a great expansive feel to the chorus.
Came here to say this! I'm surprised that David neglected to mention it, since I'm sure he's talked about it in other videos.
And "We Can Work It Out" does the same thing in reverse
And Here Comes the Sun switches back and forth between 3/4 and 4/4 in the middle instrumental section…
Joe Cocker's version of 'With a Little Help from My Friends" converts the original 4/4 to 3/4. In that case, the result is a harder, more rock and roll sounding version, rather then the other way around.
I think Joe Cocker's version is in 6/8, I might be wrong tho, I usually mistake 3/4 and 6/8
@@zarzaparrilla67 Watch the video mentioned at the end. It is super easy if you count the pulses instead of just the number of notes. 1 . 2 . 3 . versus 1 . . 2 . .
@@KarstenJohansson That's not an objective difference though. It just depends on how you choose to feel it, because either way it's:
_1_ 2 3 _2_ 2 3
which can be both
1 - - 2 - -
and
1 2 3 1 2 3
It depends on where you decide the accent (or as you put it, the pulse) is, which might be something you feel subjectively or something you actively choose when writing it.
Even the fact that it's based on divisions with the prime number 3 isn't objective as it's based on cues in the music like the patterns in the drums and harmonic rhythm etc which aren't objective since they depend on your perception of them, but it's a little bit more obvious than the 3/4 6/8 debate and saying it's in divisions with the prime number 5 would be pretty absurd.
@@althealligator1467 Try counting Minuet as one two two two three two and see how ridiculous the beat comes out, and how hard it is to keep track of what beat you are even on.
@@KarstenJohansson Sure, but that doesn't make it objective. It just makes it a more efficient way to analyse the music. Try counting something that has obvious cues that it's divided into groups of 3 in groups of 5; doable, but you're gonna have a helluva hard time.
You can hear it on Kate Bush's _"Suspended in Gaffa"_
She is so good on writing in different time signatures
I see by the sheet music that I have it is written as 3/4 ... but I think it sounds more like 6/8 with that "side to side" feel on each of the subsequent 3 beats - as described in the video David Bennett did on this a couple of years ago (go to 3m22s there): ua-cam.com/video/N4q2kBe82-o/v-deo.html
However as he says in that video, it's easy to interchange - like with his example of "America" by Simon & Garfunkle (at 5m10s over there).
But I feel Suspended In Gaffa is more "side-to-side" feel.
Nice to hear Blue Danube and Chopin in the mix.
The jazz waltzes could be notated in 9/8.
"I Me Mine" comes to mind as a Beatles song with the opening section in 3/4. I believe John and Yoko were dancing to it in the Let It Be film.
In the Get Back film George plays the band his first verse and John criticizes him for bringing a waltz. "Run along, son. We're a rock and roll band." George said, "I don't care if you don't want it. I'll put it in a musical." Maybe that's why George later added the revved up chorus. He never did write another verse. John was conspicuously absent when the band recorded it for LET IT BE.
@@jrpipikI think it was Paul who came up with the chorus, or the idea anyway.
@@aidanhickey9845 That makes sense. It sounds like Paul. Though he's not credited for it, I think that lead guitar sounds like him, too.
We Can Work It Out has also a 3/4 and Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite
@@jrpipik Sounds like an obnoxious thing to say! And s bit hypocritical
Piano man by billy Joel is a great example of a song in three for, it also has a sorta waltzy feel
He used to do a great change to a jazz waltz live in the solo too. 🎹
it IS a waltz.... in my opinion....
I always felt it as 12/8 or triplets in 4/4 but 3/4 also works
piano man is in 6/8 not 3/4
@@stickguyy just from a quick scan of different transcriptions most people did 3/4 but tbh i can see an argument for having it in either 3/4 or 6/8 or 12/8
I had trouble with a 6/8 song and learned it without counting it correctly. My piano teacher corrected me, but it still wasn't clear. Then I watched your video and it was crystal clear. Merci.
Pink + White by Frank Ocean is another modern example of a song in 3/4 and while it does feel slightly 6/8 with the piano at moments it is definitely in 3/4
The 3/4 melody that I love currently the most is Zelda's Lullaby. This especially because it's a simple melody but uses really complicated chords.
If you are wondering, the chords are (melody starts at B):
Cmaj7 Fmaj7/C Cmaj7 Fmaj7/C Bm7 Bbdim7 A11 D7 (repeat once)
Fmaj7/C Em7 Dm7 Cmaj7 Fmaj7/C Em7 Eb7 Dm7 G
My favorite recent song in 3/4 is 'Concorde' by 'Black Country, New Road'. It's such a gorgeous song in itself, but moreover, I think it encompasses the 3/4 feel brilliantly.
Amazing song. Would love to dee David use a BCNR example in one of these videos
And Good Will Hunting is in 6/4 time, and TPWHITB is 6/8 methinks! God I adore BCNR
@@AlexSmith-rb3rk I'm pretty sure TPWHITB is in 3/4 and Good Will Hunting is in 6/8 for the verses and 4/4 in the chorus. Amazing songs nonetheless. I've run out of superlatives to praise that album. What a band! (even after Isaac's departure)
I just recently stumbled across them, and the first song was this one, a really nice live performance. I love how they (at least in the songs I saw) were really sort of playing against type, with often quite proggy drums against a quite pastoral folky tune.
@deanroddey2881 continue stumbling across them, they are simply beautiful
The first song that comes to mind in 3/4 time is Rebel Waltz by The Clash off the Sandinista album from 1980. A underrated piece of Morricone-esque music.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame is in 3/4 time, it's the tune we sing at the 7th inning stretch at baseball games
Great video! Nice that you’re still finding time signatures to make videos about. I would suggest a video on the I - bVII - vi - bVI progression (or what you might call the DVNO progression). I always found the descending mixture of major and minor very cool! Some songs also change the last chord, but the sound is still similar.
Edit: Here's some songs I found:
DVNO - Justice
Brain Stew - Green Day
Hide Another Mistake - The 88 (Haunt You also uses a similar progression)
Believe X Believe - Takafumi Fujino
Laura - Scissor Sisters
Dreamin' - Weezer
Captain Square - Yoko Shimomura (from The Guardian Legend)
Gym Theme from Pokemon Gold & Silver
Title Theme from Hudson's Adventure Island III
Ending Theme from Operation C
For the Fans - Toby Fox (from Undertale) (slightly different progression, I - bVII - vi - bVII)
Troian Beauty - Nobuo Uematsu (from Final Fantasy IV) (slightly different progression, I - bVII - vi - IV)
Map Ref. 41°N 93°W - Wire (slightly different progression, I - bVII - vi - IV)
If anyone finds any more, let me know!
You just planned a video for him, he should be paying you for this shit lmao 😭
another couple i know are Babe I'm gonna leave you by Zeppelin and 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago
😱Amazed you didn't include any of the many Beatles' examples of entire songs (and bits and pieces) that feature the 3/4 time.
As per Steve Hoffman's:
I'll Be Back (take 2 from Anthology)
This Boy (probably more 6/8 than 3/4)
A Taste Of Honey
Baby's In Black
Yes It Is (another 6/8?)
Norwegian Wood
Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite (middle part)
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (verses)
She's Leaving Home
Happiness Is A Warm Gun ("I need a fix.." part)
Long, Long, Long
Good Night
I Want You (She's So Heavy) the chorus/end riff
I Me Mine (verses)
Dig A Pony
DIG A PONY ❤
You forgot "she said she said" (when I was a boy everything....)
Hey! You’ve got to hide your love away.
Isn't Good Night in 4/4?
I believe "This Boy" is 6/8.
Great video! Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) used 3/4 time for their single "Made of Orleans" which was the waltz version of two songs they wrote about Joan of Arc. They also used 3/4 on a couple of albums tracks - International and Bondage of Fate.
I've always liked how the pre-chorus to What Would You Say by the Dave Matthews Band shifts into 3/4 briefly without changing the tempo
My favourite example of a song in 3/4 is 'My Time' by bo en. It was used in one of my most favourite games and it just suits perfectly (i'll let you search why for yourself, beware spoilers). And one interesting fact about it is that it actually switches to 4/4 when it starts to sound crazy and messed up, in theory, similarly to what you said about 4/4's ability to portray pumped up rhythms.
Thank you for this video David, we learn stuff every day thank to you, even when it's about more common meters like 3/4 🥰
My Time feels more like 3/8 to me
@@zbelios1623 I thought of it after posting this comment, not a stupid thought actually, depends on how you see it
"The last waltz" by "Engelbert Humperdinck", in 1967, another popular hit that uses 3/4. Then, in 1970, the winner of Eurovision, "All kinds of everything" by "Dana". 😊
Piano Man by Billy Joel and Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson are two more pop/rock songs in 3/4 that I know off the top of my head
Hi David! Love your videos. I would like you to make a video about songs that have the same structure. Or anything about song structure could be very interesting.
Great suggestion!
Two examples come to mind. "Golden Brown" has 3 bars of 3/4 with one bar of 4/4 for the intro then settles into 3/4 for the the main part of the song.
"That's What You Get" by Paramore has the verses in 3/4 and the choruses in 4/4. The bass has a 3+3+2 semiquaver feel over beats 1&2 with a 3 beat added. In the second verse the drums simulate a 4/4 feel by playing
bass snare bass/ snare bass snare/ etc on each quarter note.
Omg I was hoping someone would mention Golden Brown, was screaming it at my screen baha (though the last bar being 4/4 might have disqualified it from this video tbf)
There is a version of Golden Brown in 5/4. It features material from Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" with the Melody from "Golden Brown" on Saxophone.
I love your choice of The Petersens for the traditional (3/4) version of "Amazing Grace."
Great video as always. When I saw Paul McCartney in the thumbnail, I could only think of "The Frog Chorus", totally forgetting about "Mull of Kintyre".
Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses" is a good one.
Nice video. I play a lot in 3/4 as many Irish songs I sing were written that way. However, the first pop song that came to my mind was The Beatles' Norwegian Wood. While it sounds like a 3/4 when played, in written form, it's actually a 12/8 time signature.
Trust your ears more than sheet music, especially when written for songs in which the original composers didn't know how to write or read notation. If it sounds like faster 3/4 to you, then it's most likely that. As 6/8 or 12/8 starts to speed up, it loses its pendulum effect at faster tempos.
My husband and I love your channel, David. A song that starts in 4/4 and moves (after 60 seconds or so) to 6/8, we think, is a gorgeous song by the Cuban band Los Zafiros. The name of the song is He Venido. Truly sublime!
BTW one great example of transforming the 3/4 to 4/4 is Beatles' version of My Bonnie - their first commercially released record, that brought Brian Epstein to them - and the rest is history :)
I love straight ahead 3/4 time, where you count it evenly without the swung/waltz feel. In scandinavian folk music we use the straight 3/4 in polskas and slängpolskas, which are common folk dances and the tunes often have an even feel, even though they have an uneven number of beats per bar.
Man, I would love to know more about it
@@thiagofigueiredo2976 Here are some good videos to check out to hear how the pulse sounds in context
ua-cam.com/video/wRDzdOy_hCk/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/_GgtVxKIhZI/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/NFYIONrQZTA/v-deo.html
A good use of 3/4 in rock is “Vigil” by Fish. The song is mostly in 4/4 but it slowly builds into the chorus, which is a crescendo in straight 3/4 that feels like it has way more urgency than everything else.
Here are a few examples:
Fake Empire by The National
Above And Beyond by Deep Purple
She’s Leaving Home by The Beatles
And 3 songs from Owl City’s latest album
-Under The Circus Lights
-Sons of Thunder
-The Meadow Lark
Fake Empire to my ear starts out mostly in four (or maybe four against three?) and slowly morphs into being mostly in three. But the length of the measure I think stays constant (unlike "Happiness is a Warm Gun, which is four against three in terms of emphasis/downbeats but with each beat having constant duration.) It's complicated, anyhow. I'd love to hear an analysis of this.
@@everydayispoetry That is true. Fake Empire is primarily based on a four against three polyrhythm. David covered it in a video about polyrhythms a few years ago
Not sure if anyone else mentioned this already, but Take It to the Limit by The Eagles is in 3/4. Nice, slow beat, as well...easy to dance to.
Polish folk dances are nearly all in triple time (3/4 or 3/8), especially the most well-known ones - polonez (polonaise) and mazurek (mazurka), which you mentioned. The first one is very often used in historical movies, as it was a big part of balls in the past.
Great to hear some examples from Poland. Dziekuje.
Three off the top of my head: Golden Brown by The Stranglers is (mostly) in 3/4, The Widow by The Mars Volta, and Fade Together by Franz Ferdinand.
I believe “Rock n’ Roll Suicide” by David Bowie is another example, and it seems like it uses the tempo to help build a kind of “laying to rest” mood. I think that helps the song fit well as the closer to an album.
Nice pick up, yes it is in 3/4
The first song I learned in 3/4 was "Where Do You Go to My Lovely" by Peter Sarstedt, and since I play ukulele, I very soon after learned "With Whom to Dance" by the Magnetic Fields. For more recent examples, dream pop duo Beach House are very fond of 3/4; both straight ("Zebra") and swung ("On the Sea").
Mexican 'norteño' music (or 'música norteña') is often in 3/4 time. 'Corridos' and songs performed by small bands (grupos norteños) or large bands (banda) are usually in this time signature.
A popular 'banda' song that was used as the main song for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II videogame is in 3/4 time. The song is called '141' and performed by Banda MS.
Enya's "Caribbean Blue" is in 3/4... I think "Greensleeves" is actually in 6/8, and so are all the other song examples I'm thinking of, but Enya's sheet music says it's in 3/4.
Classic example: Joe Cocker taking Beatles "A liitle help from my friends" in 4/4 to his version in 3/4. Thanks for another great vid.
My favorite piece in 3/4 is probably Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2. We played it in my orchestra this year and my teacher called it a haunted merry go round song, which I just love.
Great choice. I think I agree
Is there some other name for that? If I search for _Shostakovich Waltz No. 8_ (or some reasonable variation), the best I can come up with is his Waltz No. 2, which seems to be at least a few waltzes short, or “String Quartet No. 8,” which doesn’t seem very waltz-like, being in 4/4 time.
@@jeff__w i accidentally combined Waltz No. 2 with String Quartet No. 8. I meant to say Waltz No 2, but I guess I associate the number eight with Shostakovich because I also really like string quartet number eight, so I accidentally called it waltz number eight.
The Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends" from Sgt Pepper is of course in 4. But somehow Joe Cocker transformed it into 3/4 for his recording, and is the only Beatles' cover that I prefer over the original.
Jimmy Eat World's "For Me This is Heaven" is my favorite rock song in 3/4. A couple others I can think of for rock/pop are "Romulus" by Sufjan Stevens," and ""Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep At the Wheel" by Barenaked Ladies (though that could be considered 6/8 based on the drums)/
The theme from the 70’s show Mannix is a great jazz tune in 3/4 that not a lot of people know about!
I was thinking of these songs…
Billy Joel- She’s Always A Woman
Eagles- Pretty Maids All In A Row
Nick Drake- One Of These Things First
Pearl Jam- Nothingman
Pearl Jam- Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
Queen- A Winter’s Tale
Weezer- My Name Is Jonas
A very rare (and impressive) example of *rapping* in 3/4 time is in the musical Hamilton -- check out the track "Farmer Refuted" :)
I’m not sure if anyone’s commented this yet, but my fave Bob Dylan’s done a bunch of songs in 3/4. One I can especially name off the top of my head is “Fourth Time Around” off of Blonde on Blonde, the response to John Lennon’s “Norwegian Wood.” Super hypnotizing and catchy, and imo one of the best songs on that album. Love it so much 😍💖
Can’t really remember many others though 🙃 Maybe if I go back through, I’ll find some more, and you probably can too ❤
The times they are a changin!
Thank you for your blunt knowledge, kind stranger 💕 Actually counted it earlier, and I never knew that was in 3/4, so thank you for helping me appreciate it even more 💖
Another banger by the music theory GOAT
The Last Waltz- by Engelbert Humperdinck, Ooh Baby Baby- by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Every Little Bit Hurts and I'll always love you- both by Brenda Holloway, Love (Makes Me Do foolish things) Martha Reeves and the Vandella's, Forever by Marvin Gaye, Just Loving You- Kim Weston
Beatles - Baby’s in Black, Dig a Pony, Yer Blues, I Me Mine (verses, could be 3/4 or 6/8), Long Long Long, Good Night, We Can Work It Out (parts), Benefit of Mr. Kite (parts), Lucy in the Sky (verses)
Elton John - I Need You to Turn To, Elton’s Song
Billy Joel - Piano Man, Downeaster Alexa
Rainbow - Self Portrait
Kansas - Hold On
Queen - Millionaire’s Walts, Sweet Lady
Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (most of the song)
Allman Brothers - Cross to Bear, Whippin’ Post
Nazareth - Guilty (Paul Newman’s song - but could be written in 4/4, in triplets)
Other 3/4 classic rock songs.
Some of my personal fave rock songs in 3/4 (sometimes 6/8) time signature
There are many others in 3/4.
* Stranglers - Golden Brown
* Eagles - Take It To The Limit
* Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
* REM - Everybody Hurts
* Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gun
* Beatles - Baby's In Black
* Beatles - Norwegian Wood
* Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
* Beatles - I Me Mine
* Beatles - I Want You (She's So Heavy) mix of signatures but the long coda is 3/4
* Beach Boys - Surfer Girl
* Journey - Open Arms
* Queen - We Are The Champions
* Many artists - A Taste Of Honey
* System of A Down - Lonely Day
* Billy Joel - Piano Man
* Corrs - Runaway
* Tom Waits - Innocent When You Dream
* Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe
* Muse - Blackout
* Bon Jovi - Bed Of Roses
* Bob Dylan - Times They Are A Changin'
* Julie Rogers - The Wedding
* Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight
i believe lonely day is actually in the related, yet different, 6/8
My favorite waltz of the modern day has to go to Cojum Dip’s Waltz In E Major, Opus 15 “Moon Waltz” I won’t spoil the surprise for readers who want to go listen for themselves, but you could say it has a little more punch than your average classical piece. Cojum Dip’s collaboration with Joe Hawley on the song Aristotle’s Denial has the same time signature and a similar appeal for those wanting more, although it definitely didn’t knock me flat on my back quite like my first time listening to Moon Waltz did. I cannot express how much I love that song.
One of my favorite examples is Del Amitris "nothing ever happens". In that song the waltzy melody perfectly supports the lyrics.
I;m always impressed how you find so many varied examples for each topic
Hey David, could you make a video on the Where Is My Mind chord progression?
It's I-vi-III-IV, though a more common variation is the same progression but starting on the vi chord, like vi-III-IV-I
Other songs that use it are:
- Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
- Cradles - Sub Urban
- Cigarette Duet - Princess Chelsea
- Say It Ain't So - Weezer
- Cake - Melanie Martinez
- Good in Goodbye - Madison Beer
Good suggestion! I’ll look into it!
The Just the Two of Us progression also has those chords... the basic major version (seen fairly often in jpop recently) is IV-III7-vi-I (with some variation on the end). Of course, jazzed up its IVΔ7-III7-vi7-I7, the III7 just seems to often be used when the others aren't (I wonder if that's also true of songs using the progressions you're talking about). The original Just the Two of Us is minor (much rarer in jpop)... basically VI7-V7-i7 (ii7/Vi V7/VI) VI7-V7-i7, noting the 251 turnaround between pairs of repetitions (emphasized here by notating them of /VI, which is the chord at the start).
Wait, didn't Where Is My Mind have the Creep chord progression?..
@@em_the_bee It did, but it's only the "waaaaay out in the water see it swimming" line. So that's I-III-IV-iv followed by vi-V, but the rest of the song is I-vi-III-IV.
@@vib80 Yeah that's true, it's a different chord progression using the same four chords, though the one is dominant.
Like I always say, it's always easier to look at chords from the perspective of the relative major than the relative minor because the relative minor gives you 3 unnecessary flats, because we arbitrarily decided to base our entire system of scale degrees on the major scale such that the major scale has all natural degrees. There's not really any good reason for that, though, but since it's the case, looking at chord progressions from the relative major is much easier.
From the perspective of the relative minor, Just the Two of Us would be:
bVI
V
i
bvii bIII7
Whereas from the perspective of the relative major, it would simply be:
IV
III
vi
v I7
With no flats.
I was not aware the intro from Kiss from a Rose was in 3/4, I can't help it but still feel it in 6/8 like the rest of the song because of the phrasing lasting two bars. Basically we can divide a bar of 6/8 into two measures of 3/4 as long as we keep accenting beat 1 of each (given the phrasing remains constant throughout the song).
By the way, thanks so much for the time signature playlist; it's definitively the best source of meters for reference for years to come! 😉
Beatles "We Can Work It Out" moves to 3/4 in the bridge. Frank Zappa's "Sofa # 2" is also in 3/4.
Bob Dylan's "Fourth Time Around", too. A "norwegian wood" parody - which itself sounds kind of 3/4 or 6/8 (I wouldn't know the difference).
I find it a bit in game music, where having different "feels" is significant to the art. One my my favourites would be from Mountain of Faith (Touhou), Stage 4 boss (Aya) theme, Youkai no Yama ~ Mysterious Mountain. What's really nice is that the main melody is in 3/4, but the refain/B-melody is in 4/4... it gives a big kick of energy when the change happens, without needing to up tempo or pitch. It also to fits the boss well.
There's some great 3/4 songs from the 8 bit era. Metroid and Castlevania come to mind
One that springs to mind is Valse di Fantastica from Final Fantasy XV, which is very much channelling that sweeping Viennese Waltz style.
Great site! I love your explanations of music. I think "Wintertime Love" by the Doors is in 3/4 time, as is "Old Country Waltz" (of course) by Neil Young. Bob Dylan has two on the "New Morning" album: "Winterlude" and "Time Passes Slowly".
2:54 those flags really caugh me off guard god damn
Right? I was enjoying the clip and then I see those and my eyes widen.
Peter Gabriel’s “Down To Earth” from Wall-E is a nice piece that transitions between 3/4 and 4/4 time.
I especially loved your comment about the feel that this signature gives off
A song that has been the most listened on spotify lately and is in 3/4 time throughout the entire song is "Ella Baila Sola" by "Peso Pluma" and "Eslabon Armado"
Some early Leonard Cohen songs are in 3/4 times (Sisters of Mercy, Bird on a Wire...) as well as some pure folksy young Bob Dylan (With God On Our Side).
And The Clash "Rebel Waltz" is, as you may have guessed, on a waltz rhythm.
Examples of 3/4:
"Hollow Talk" by The Choir of Young Believers, theme music to "The Bridge" TV series
"Are you Lonesome Tonight?" - Elvis
"Eclipse", and various parts of "Shine on..." - Pink Floyd
"The Queen and the Soldier" - Suzanne Vega
"Not the girl you think you are" - Crowded House
"America" and "Old Friends" - Simon & Garfunkel
I feel like Normal Christian music is the most common type of 3/4 music (Still being made today) because it is meant to be calm. (I would know this, because one, I live right next to a church (In the mornings when I go to my school bus, I have to walk up the hill and Stand next to the Church's Cemetery until my bus comes) and I used to go to church, and I would listen to those kind of songs a lot)
My personal favorite example of a 3/4 song is I Want You (She’s So Heavy) by The Beatles. Also switches between 4/4 and 3/4, but I find it interesting how that song utilizes 3/4. Each measure in its chorus starts with a pronounced opening beat that’s accentuated by the shortness of a 3/4 measure, compared to 4/4. It almost gives the audible illusion of thumping footsteps, spaced-out and pounding. A 4/4 notation would have made the chorus feel even more spaced-out, but as a result, it wouldn’t feel nearly as driving. Instead, they decided to use 4/4 time for the other verses, giving them a more relaxed, jazzy feel. Not one of John Lennon’s more lyrically complex compositions, but definitely one of his most effectively atmospheric.
“Piano Man” 3/4 Billy Joel “Fooled around and fell in love” 6/8 “Elvin Bishop “Lights” 6/8 “Journey “ Take it to the Limit”- 3/4 Eagles (swung a little “….
Hi David, thanks for the video. I really liked the intro demonstrating where the drum 🥁 falls on each beat. Would you be able to do a video for each time signature? For example, in 4/4 is it bass snare bass snare 🔢? Whilst I understand time signatures theoretically, I have difficulty hearing it in real time on a song. I can hear 3/8 6/8 and 12/8 but it’s mostly the 8 part and I can’t tell the difference.
I have trouble feeling the pulse.
Great video! The other day I was learning Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls on guitar, and noticed for the most part it has a 3/4 time signature.
I was a drummer in an early 2000's cover band, playing mostly classic rock hits with a few modern examples. One night at a show, the band's former drummer showed up, and during a break in our set they had a happy reunion and introduced the guy to me. Apparently he was not only a drummer but a great crooner as well. He came up on stage to sing Journey's Open Arms, and did I know it? Of course I did! I cut my teeth as a young drummer mostly playing along to my favorite album, Journey's Escape, of which Open Arms is the final track. Now, this cocky singer/drummer asks me, "do you know it's in 3/4 time? Don't screw it up by playing it in 4/4 time." Now to me, I was never a very good school musician, but I could pretty much listen to anything once and copy it. I guess people call that a fake drummer, but whatever, I knew how to play the song and we pulled it off just fine with no rehearsal, live on stage. Ever since then, whenever I hear that song I can't help but think about it's time signature. I did meet Steve Smith once, who is my drum hero, but it was before my time with this covers band. Anyone who has ever listened to Journey's album Raised on Radio (the one without him on it) knows how incredibly talented and valuable he was to that band.
The Sarraband one is almost certainly an influence on one of my favorite tracks in one of my favorite games, when it slows down during the Hollow Knight fight.
3/4 is to me the uncanny wally to 6/8. 6/8 is probably my favorit time signatur, it just feels so smooth to me, like a big wave.
3/4 on the other hand is one of my least favorit time signaturs, to me it feels like bad imitation or a parody of 6/8.
But in songs lige Metallica - One it feels to me more like 6/8 that 3/4, so I can still clearly not tell the difference.
It better have Piano Man on the list
edit: come one man, that's probably the most famous 3/4 song ever.
I think it's brilliant that Billy Joel just wrote a straight up waltz.
Maybe Everyday by Slade and Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce. Having said that, I'm a guitarist, not a pianist, so its all 3/4, or 4/4 to me ! Keep the good work up mate, Richie in Cyprus (but previously a Brummie)
In 1965, the famous Minuet in G, by the composer formerly known as JS Bach, became pop smash "A Lovers' Concerto" by The Toys, rendered in a brisk 2/4 meter.
Yep -- I was surprised DB didn't mention that example.
A favorite modern song in 3/4 I like is called "A Potion For Love" by AURORA, it's on electric guitar and its very beautiful and sad
I know you can't play the original without it being blocked, but "Take It To The Limit" by The Eagles is in 3/4 time.
"Are You Lonesome Tonight" is an obvious one. I also hear "The End" from "The Black Parade" in 3/4 rather than 6/8. Same with "The Thin Ice" and "One of My Turns" from "The Wall".
Oh, I can't believe I forgot "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers. Most of it is in 3/4.
Nick Cave have written in 3/4: "People ain't no good" and "The Carny", perhaps more. First I thought "Where the wild roses grow" and "Henry Lee" also belonged there, but after seeing your 3/4 vs 6/8 video I assume they are in the latter.
I saw this video on my youtube feed and thought: IS THERE NOT A VIDEO ON 3/4 ALREADY?????
Once again an amazingly interesting and fascinating video😊In a nutshell, with no regard to musical styles, it is clear, that 4/4 is the most common time singnature, 3/4 has as clearly its stronghold in the music😊
…the whole of “A Little night Music” is in variants of 3:4. Which doubtless includes 6:8.
Play Me by Neil Diamond is in 3/4 time. He couldn't decide whether it should be in 3/4 or 4/4 time. His guitarist, Richard Bennett helped him to decide on 3/4 time.
A popular French song in 3/4 is Love Story by Indila but as most people you could perceive the song to be in a slow 12/8 since it is a rather fast(er) 3/4. Another popular French song in 3/4 is the title track of the movie Ratatouille Le Festin
"La Bohème" by Charles Aznavour is in 3/4!
Great video, as always! 👏 Other song examples:
Bjork, "It's Oh So Quiet".
Blur, "The Debt Collector"
The Commodores, "Three Times a Lady".
Jean Michel Jarre, "Equinoxe Part 3".
Sofa by Zappa - Sweet Lady and Millionaire Waltz by Queen. - La valse d'Amélie by Yann Tiersen - You mentioned Army Dreamers but Kate Bush also wrote Ran Tan Waltz, Sat In you Lap, Symphony In Blue and Suspended in Gaffa in 3/4
I love your videos. Could you please do one of these on 2/4 time? I've been studying "I'm So Tired" by the Beatles and the chorus is in 2/4 while the verses are in 4/4. Just an absolutely stunning song. I'm still trying to understand what makes the chorus of that song so incredibly pleasing to the ear...
I'm so tired is entirely in 4/4. I mean you could technically divide a 4/4 bar into 2 2/4 bars, so it could also be interely in 2/4 or the verse in 2/4 and the chorus in 4/4 or viceversa but for this song is better to write it interely in 4/4. 2/4 is more common in marching bands and military songs, in rock/pop music is virtually non-existant.
EDIT: I listened to the song carefully and it has a random 2/4 bar inbetween the 4/4 bars just before the chorus, so it isn't interiley in 4/4.
"She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles; "Wintertime Love" by The Doors; "Back Street Girl" by The Rolling Stones; "Porpoise Mouth" by Country Joe & The Fish...
Amazing grace is a good example of a song In 3/4
If you wanted to I'm sure you could have done a video on this time signature solely on the stuff Paul McCartney and the Beatles have done.
Although I understand doing it with multiple artist songs makes it more pleasing to a wider audience especially with the algorithms.
Anyway loved the video well researched as always
Soldiers by Abba is a curious song for 3/4 time, because the arrangement, especially the drums, represents a slow march.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Love is a Camera is one I love, it's a kind of folk-story song in a steady 3/4 almost throughout, that only switches into 4/4 for an accelerating outro
Nightporter by Japan and Maid of Orleans by OMD are two hits from the 80s, both in 3/4
Led Zeppelin has quite a few bluesy songs in 3/4, e.g. You Shook Me, Dazed and Confused (original by Jake Holmes, as you know) and Since I've Been Loving You
So glad you used Elliott Smith. 👍 What about "Baby's in Black" by The Beatles?... or is that 6/8? 🤔 Small bits of "We Can Work it Out" is 3/4.
“In The Cage” - Genesis
“Pushit” - TOOL
I found a song called Three of a Perfect Pair by King Crimson and I looked up the time signature and it said 1/4? I’ve never really heard of that time signature being used so is there any way you can make a video about it
One song I find interesting is Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. The instrumental portions of the song are in 4/4, while the lyrics are in 3/4.
There are a couple of other 3/4 rock songs, like Farewell by Avantasia, Addicted by Kelly Clarkson, All I Need by Within Temptation, and Nightfall by Blind Guardian. They are often in the form of a power waltz.