I want to be able to play in 5/4.
My timing is good with different time signatures. I test myself playing waltz in 4/4 or 4/4 tune as a waltz. My main stumbling block is I have no ability to play in 5/4....Is there a way to approach this to enable me to master playing a 5/4 tune.

Good point - it's not like there are whole book-fulls of 5/4 music either...

I have no advice - but at least I recognise the problem. :-)

5 beats to a measure and a 1/4 note gets one beat.
BUT WHY?
YOu would have to count the beats until you get used to it.
BUT WHY?
I have not seen a lot of music in 5/4.
Best,
Bebop

To learn Odd times it's best to divide the measure up. So for a 5/4, practice a bar of 3 followed by a bar of 2 (counting 1,2,3,1,2); then do the reverse (counting 1,2,1,2,3). Which type used(3+2 or 2+3) will depend on the song.
For example for "Take Five", it is a 3+2, so to start with, you could count:
one two-a three one two;
and once you get the hang of it, you can even count:
one two-a three four five.
Of course, for "two-a", I mean the standard jazz ting-a-ling (dotted eight note followed by sixteenth note).

It's said already "practice"

A good song to get a feeling for it;

In a white room (Cream - Eric Clapton)

Fred

I second Vquestor in everything.
Also, for me, the original theme for "Mission Impossible" is also in 5/4. at least that's the way I am counting it, Am I wrong?

I concur with Vquester. The actually feel (groove) of the classic "Take Five" swing tune is actually: 1-2-3 - 1-2, and NOT counted straight: 1-2-3-4-5. Listen to the classic Dave Brubeck recording & you'll hear this. Don't forget that a tune's meter & rhythm must be FELT (in your body) and can't be merely played (note for note) from written out notation because notation (dots) can't accurately capture exactly what must be felt. The main rhythmic difference between pop & classical music is that in pop/jazz, the (back) beat (2&4) is emphasized, whereas in classical music, the first beat of the measure is strongest followed by 2, 3 and then 4 (weakest).

Graham, good luck, and btw, happy birtday. You're dewfinitely one very healthy & fit 68 year old guy. Congratulations.

Scott

I believe most Greek traditional songs are in 7/8 and many "folk" (no other way to describe them, the actual word is "rembetika") is in 9/8.
Good luck with that.
Byzantine music is terrorising: on bar in 2/4, next 5/8, next 3/4, next 4/4, next 12/8 and so on.

It is simply a matter of practicing counting 5 beats over a 5/4 feel. It is as easy as any other time signature once you are used to the feel then it becomes natural. I also like 7/8 which can also groove along.

If you can't find many examples of 5/4 then just create some of your own and practice playing over them. Take 5 is great example of 5/4 so just apply that feel to any chord progression that you choose.

[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 04-11-2005).]

This thread reminds me of the late Don Ellis and his big band. Anybodyn remember him?

Just to give you a clue, he played a quarter-tone trumpet. Yep, 24 notes to a chromatic scale.

The band did basically only very odd meters. Example he had one record album that was titled Don Ellis Live in three and two thirds/four. (Couldn't figure out a way to type out the numbers)

But the thing that jogged my memory is that, it is said the only thing Don Ellis did in 4/4 was Take Five. haha

Scott Langholff http://www.ScottLMusic.com