Any musicians here?

**Randy Korr** · 24th February 2007, 07:57 AM

Can you name a rock/pop music song that's generally or mostly in 3/4 time?

I don't mean a bit of a guitar solo or a sample of something (like the calliope in Alice Cooper's Steven).

Maybe it's more prevalent than my mind can recall. I almost invariably am tapping my foot 4/4 when I try to figure this. Never 3/4 for the whole song.

I figure that if somebody has actually played music and can read it, then it would be that much easier to figure out.

Thanks, it's driving me nuts.

R. K.

**Cliff Rogers** · 24th February 2007, 12:33 PM

Try a CD by Jimmy Buffett called 'Living And Dying In 3/4 Time'

**Iain** · 24th February 2007, 12:52 PM

Most rock/pop wouldn't know what 3/4 time was, only counterpoint, but they think it is playing in unison

I heard a South American group playing once and every instrument had a different time signature, somehow though it worked.

**SPIRIT** · 24th February 2007, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Iain

Most rock/pop wouldn't know what 3/4 time was, only counterpoint, but they think it is playing in unison

.

dur what l like it loud

**Lignum** · 24th February 2007, 06:45 PM

And dont forget the classic, rock a bye baby

**old_picker** · 24th February 2007, 11:46 PM

umm you have to go back to the 50's
They called it rock n roll waltz
actually time signature is 9/8
3 lots of 3 ....the pulse is 3 beats to the bar its sometimes called a swing waltz
Kay Starr had a big hit called "the rock n roll waltz" in 1956 Frankie and johnnie was another big r&r waltz hit

you wont find no rappers doin a watlz thats fer sure

**ciscokid** · 25th February 2007, 03:53 AM

I play a lot of '50s stuff (early Rockabilly music) and the majority of the stuff is 4/4. Only exception I can think of is Sleepwalk (from the '40s) and that is 12/8.

**Randy Korr** · 27th February 2007, 01:43 AM

Thanks for all the help. The only authentic 3/4 I had come up with on my own was the opening of "Billy the Mountain" by the Mothers of Invention. Arguably, the opening is not rock-n-roll at all.

Since, I've had "Piano Man" by Billy Joel pointed out. That's in 6/8, which is close enough for me. I could quibble about whether "Piano Man" or Billy Joel are rock-n-roll (I think of Billy Joel as being in the model of Frank Sinatra or Pat Boone as opposed to Elvis), but nobody is going to argue about them being popular.

And the fellow who pointed out "Piano Man" has just come back with another, in actual 3/4 time: Strawberry Fields.

Here's an odd one. Being a non-literate music guy it was interesting to me. 7/4 (or maybe 7/8) time. Pink Floyd's "Money". Anyway, sorry if that was boring. I never would have come up with it on my own, but a musician buddy pointed it out.

R. K.

**silentC** · 27th February 2007, 08:57 AM

Golden Brown by The Stranglers is 6/8 7/8, pretty damn close to a waltz.

**journeyman Mick** · 27th February 2007, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by silentC

Golden Brown by The Stranglers is 6/8 7/8, pretty damn close to a waltz.

Yeah, the opening few bars are pretty much like a waltz, not that I've actually tried waltzing to it. I can just imagine the reaction to someone waltzing at a Strangler's concert, didn't one of them punch an interviewer on TV or something?

Mick

**silentC** · 27th February 2007, 12:10 PM

didn't one of them punch an interviewer on TV or something

Probably. They have a bad boy reputation...

**journeyman Mick** · 27th February 2007, 12:12 PM

Actually, I think it was a 2JJ presenter who was interviewing them now that I think of it.

Mick (showing his age)

Thread: Any musicians here?

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Any musicians here?

Similar Threads

I hate Musicians Friend

One for the musicians...Fender Champ head

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions