The 7 Best Songs With Unique Time Signatures

Time signatures and measures make the difference between being an awesome musician and knowing how to play a bunch of notes in a row. By changing the timing of our notes, we create that “musical” sound that gives what we play a unique personality.

Unusual time signatures can help musicians even further, combining familiar notes and beats in crazy new ways to make incredible new sounds and songs. Some of the most legendary artists and bands in history have used these time signatures to make one of a kind beats that are recognizable for their unique sound. Check out our 7 favorite songs with unusual time signatures!

Rush – Tom Sawyer (⅞ time)

Rush is one of the most famous Canadian bands in history, and “Tom Sawyer” is arguably their best-known song, featuring a great combination of standard 4/4 beats and a great instrumental breakdown in a ⅞ time signature that makes the song a powerful and exceptional rock anthem.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auLBLk4ibAk[/embedyt]

Pink Floyd – Money (7/4 time)

Featuring what is easily one of the most recognizable bass riffs in classic rock, Pink Floyd’s “Money” is a perfect example of unusual measures. The song’s bouncy bassline leads the band on a great 7/4 time signature that gives “Money” an unmistakable swagger, and a great jazzy feel.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0kcet4aPpQ[/embedyt]

The Beatles – Happiness Is a Warm Gun (4/4, 5/5, 9/8, 10/8, and on and on)

This is undoubtedly one of the Beatles’ most eccentric songs, featuring mood changes and musical styles that range from doo-wop to rock to pop.  The track features a dizzying series of changing time signatures that give each section of the song such a distinct feel from the others.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zei3xnivwFk[/embedyt]

Outkast – Hey Ya! (Emulates an 11/4 time)

While this is actually cheating, since “Hey Ya!” is technically in a 4/4 time, Andre 3000’s masterful use of a standard time signature actually gives “Hey Ya!” it’s catchy, unforgettable beat. The song uses what’s known as a cadential phrase, which combines a series of measures to create what seems like a continuous measure on a distinct signature.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWgvGjAhvIw[/embedyt]

Radiohead – 15 step (5/4 Time)

The opening song to Radiohead’s classic In Rainbows, “15 Step” applies a rarely utilized 5/4 time signature that gives the song a strangely syncopated sound. The song maintains the beat throughout, making for a high-energy romp in electronic rock.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7UKu8s84S0[/embedyt]

MGMT – Electric Feel (6/4 time)

MGMT’s laid back “Electric Feel” uses a non-standard 6/4 time signature, creating some great effects. The unusual measure gives the song a bouncing that feels like taking a walk down 70s disco lane while the drums keep it strongly grounded in modern electronica.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmZexg8sxyk[/embedyt]

Led Zeppelin – The Ocean (4/4+⅞ time)

Not one of Led Zeppelin’s best-known tracks, the song still features a fascinating drum beat that perfectly complements Jimmy Page’s unorthodox guitar riffs. The song’s unusual ⅞ measures are used to build a combination of blues and Led Zeppelin’s trademark heavy rock sound.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsKJlZi04I0[/embedyt]

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Here are four ways that music is beefing up your brain power without you even realizing it!

Brain Booster #1: Situational Interpretation

Music can make us feel happy or sad, but it can even go so far as to color our judgment of situations and people. Music can actually determine how we interpret neutral events or characteristics. A cross-modal transfer of emotion study showed that after listening to either happy or sad pieces of music, people were more inclined to assign those emotions to faces that displayed neutral expressions. This is a brain function controlled by the nucleus accumbens, and listening to various types of music can help us bolster various emotions.

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Brain Booster #2: Increased Productivity

Because the brain functions optimally when stress levels are low and good moods are high, creating a more positive environment will automatically produce better results. Music, specifically the type of music you personally enjoy, releases dopamine (the happy hormone), lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) production, and puts you into a better frame of mind, in general. A study shows that employees who were able to choose their own playlists produced higher quality and more creative results.

Brain Booster #3: Problem Solving, Creativity & Abstract Thinking

Numerous other workplace studies have shown that employees who worked to moderate music tones were on the whole more productive. They displayed greater levels of creativity and higher abstract thinking skills compared to workers who played louder music or who played no music at all around the office. Mid-range tones have proven to be the most effective at encouraging creativity by forcing the brain to process a more complex (but not too strenuous) set of stimuli. Too loud, and the brain gets distracted or overwhelmed. Too low, and there is no challenge. Ambient noise, however, hits the spot beautifully.

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Brain Booster #4: Perseverance

Researchers studied individuals who worked out regularly before, during, and after their workout, and some startling results emerged: Music can actually cancel out the brain’s fatigue messages to the body, allowing us to exert ourselves more than if we were doing the same task without music. Music can even help our bodies use oxygen more efficiently, making workout sessions or other strenuous tasks easier and more effective.

Music has the power to induce happiness and creativity, energize us, and increase productivity at work. Get the most out of everything you do by adding some toe-tapping tunes to your everyday tasks.

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