Enthralling odd meters: mysterious music with odd time signatures and complex rhythms

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Suddenly, but have you heard the musical term “irregular time signatures”? Many of you probably learned concepts like 4/4 in music class, but unlike common meters like 4/4 or 3/4, pieces that use unconventional meters such as 5/4 or 7/4—or even switch between multiple meters within a single song—are collectively referred to as “irregular time signatures.” They might sound a bit niche, but in fact, you can find irregular meters in pop songs, anime themes, and more that you hear every day.

In this article, we’ll introduce songs that use these intriguingly unusual time signatures, spanning a variety of genres.

Be sure to try counting along as you listen!

Enthralling odd meters: Enigmatic music with irregular time signatures and complex rhythms (41–50)

Do You Want It All?Two Door Cinema Club

Do You Want It All?

Do You Want It All?Two Door Cinema Club

A hidden gem from a Northern Irish indie rock band that lets you fully savor the appeal of odd time signatures.

The entire track is driven by a distinctive 7/8 groove, most notably structured with a consistent “4+3” feel right from the intro.

Featured on their 2010 debut album, Tourist History, the song was also used in the film Chalet Girl and the MTV series Teen Wolf, significantly boosting the band’s profile.

Despite its odd meter, the groove feels effortlessly natural—proof of true craftsmanship—and it’s sure to captivate any music lover with a passion for rhythm.

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MoneyPink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Money (Official Music Video)

MoneyPink Floyd

Among the many progressive rock classics that use odd time signatures, one of the most famous is Pink Floyd’s “Money.” Featured on their 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon, the song was released as a single in the United States and became a hit, reaching No.

13 on the Billboard chart, which also helped propel the album’s massive success.

True to its title, the intro flows from a rhythm built on the sounds of a cash register and money into a distinctive 7/4 bass riff—an opening that still feels fresh nearly fifty years later.

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The GrudgeTool

TOOL – The Grudge (Audio)

The GrudgeTool

When discussing the modern progressive rock scene, you simply cannot overlook the American progressive metal band Tool.

With chugging guitar riffs, drums in a distinct, percussion-forward style, a weightless, floating bass, and the vocals of charismatic frontman Maynard James Keenan, their singular sound makes odd time signatures feel effortless and almost unnoticeable—there’s nothing else quite like it.

This track opens their 2001 album Lateralus and is a song whose eight-plus minutes pass by without you even noticing.

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In conclusion

There are genres like progressive rock where odd time signatures appear frequently, and there are also surprising songs that turn out to use them— the deeper you dive into the world of odd meters, the more you notice their profound appeal.

The music you love might actually be using odd time signatures, too… I hope this article serves as a springboard for new discoveries for all of you!