Mixed & Asymmetrical Meter

Asymmetrical Meter Playlist

Directions: Shuffle the playlist and listen to the examples. Identify the asymmetrical meter (e.g. 5/4, 7/8) and the grouping (e.g. 2+3 or 2+2+3).

Asymmetrical Meters

Each of the following examples are missing the time signature at the beginning. Identify the most likely meter.

Instructor Note: See the instructor anthology for solutions with original notated meters. Additional examples for study can be found in the Aural Skills Anthology here.

1) Germaine Tailleferre, “Pastorale,” mm. 1–7 (1919) [Image | YouTube: 0:01–0:11]

2) Pat Metheny, “Have You Heard,” mm. 1–4 (1989) [Image | YouTube: 0:00-0:16]

3) John Carpenter, theme from Halloween (1978) [Image | YouTube: 0:00–0:26]

4) Dave Brubeck Quartet, “Take Five,” mm. 1–8, from Time Out (1959), written by Paul Desmond [Image | YouTube: 0:19–0:49]

5) Vampire Weekend, “Bryn,” Chorus, written by Shane Sonebeck, Jeff Curtain and Rostam [Image | YouTube (0:39–0:56)

Changing Meters

The following examples incorporate changing meter. The time signatures are missing. Identify the time signature above each measure where it changes.

1) Adam Guettel, “Love to Me,” mm. 9–16, from The Light in the Piazza (2005), performed by Matthew Morrison [PDF | Image | MuseScore | YouTube: 0:08–0:15]

2) Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, “Too Late for Love,” mm. 39–47, from 6 Sorrow Songs No. 6, Op. 57 (1906) [Image | YouTube: 2:00–2:30]

3) Klaus, Badelt, “Will and Elizabeth,” mm. 1–8, from the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) [Image | YouTube: 0:03–0:18]

4) The Beatles, “Good Day Sunshine,” chorus, from Revolver (1966) [Image | YouTube: 0:08–0:20]

5) The Beatles, “All You Need is Love,” from Magical Mystery Tour (1967) [Image | YouTube 0:08–0:22]

More Examples

Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Asymmetrical Meters
Music by Women: Asymmetrical Meters, Changing Meters
Rosenberg, From Rock Music to Theory Pedagogy, Appendix B (includes a list of popular music examples with irregular meters, changing meters, and polymeter.
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Meter/Rhythm" tab at the bottom.

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