Playing In Time Signature 5/4 ?
I read from music and my timing is to my ears is good. I can play 3/4 waltz in 4/4 or a 4/4 tune in 3/4. This may appear a silly exercise, but it has help me improve my playing to different time signatures.
The problem I have is I just can't play songs in 5/4. I just can not grab the timing.....What's the secret...Suggestions and guidance please.

Graham UK.

Subdivide the measures into things you already understand. one bar of 3/4 and one bar of 2/4. depending on the song,
maybe it is 2/4 then 3/4.

Graham,
I'm with you, having difficulty. I'm trying to play "Take Five" (and probably obviously as it's the only 5/4 tune I know of).
Quick answer is practice, practice etc, but in my mind I'm trying to group the last beat in the 5 with the first beat in the next bar to make a 2/4 phrase (each note has a different chord) and then group the next three, which have the same chord as the last of the previous 2/4. That seems to match the rhythm of the piece. Then back to practice, practice.
Good Luck
Keith

Give a listen to Sting's "I Hung My Head". I'm prety sure this is an example also of 5/4 time.
Like Keith said, "Take Five" is probably one of the best examples.

3+2 works best for me. The beats fall nice that way.

Thanks for your inputs. I will persevere with 5/4 practice.....possibly as with other things it will eventually drop into place.

Graham UK

Try going back to old basics ....

4/4 or Common time use to be ....

Strong weak medium weak

3/4 used to be .....

strong weak weak

So maybe 5/4 would be ...

Strong Weak weak Medium weak

JonPro. Interesting concept...I'll give it a try.

So what would 6/8 be ?.

Graham UK.

STRONG weak weak STRONG weak weak (mostly.)

Some of us play 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 and somehow manage to make them all sound like 5/4!

Now that's clever
Best wishes
Tony

[This message has been edited by Tony W (edited 02-16-2004).]