Enthralling odd meters: mysterious music with odd time signatures and complex rhythms
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!
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Enthralling odd meters: Mysterious music with irregular time signatures and complex rhythms (1–10)
Absolute Destiny ApocalypseJ.A shīzā
The mysterious world conjured by irregular rhythms and majestic choral writing has a unique allure that overwhelms the listener.
With frequent shifts among diverse meters such as 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 5/8, and 3/8, it creates an unstable, hypnotic atmosphere that can truly be called the essence of avant-garde music.
Originally composed for the stage production “Kaspar Hauser: Prologue to the Mystery of a Human Being, or For My Monsieur” by the Experimental Theatre Laboratory Ban’yū Inryoku, the piece became widely known when it was used in the duel scenes of the 1997 TV anime Revolutionary Girl Utena.
It is especially recommended for those interested in progressive rock or classical music, as well as listeners seeking a work that stands apart from conventional anime songs.
RememberDisturbed
This masterpiece brilliantly captures the turmoil between past memories and present emotions through complex changing time signatures.
Featured on Disturbed’s 2002 album “Believe,” the song is notable for its verse sections that irregularly shift from 4/4 to 5/4 and 6/4, deftly using rhythm to evoke the fragmentary nature of memory and a subtly unsettled state of mind.
The tension created by David Draiman’s introspective vocals and the shifting meters powerfully conveys the yearning to break free from past trauma.
Although it had no special tie-ins, the track reached No.
6 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and stands as a key song that symbolizes the band’s musical maturation.
It’s recommended both for music fans who want to savor the appeal of odd time signatures and for players eager to tackle complex rhythmic patterns.
Ant-Man Main ThemeChristophe Beck
This theme is known within the Marvel Cinematic Universe for its distinctive musical identity.
Structured as a march in an unusual 7/4 meter, it stands apart from typical superhero film scores.
An eight-note ostinato in the low instruments and percussion runs throughout, underpinning a flowing main melody to deftly express the protagonist’s thief-like side and the film’s overall breezy tone.
Used as the main theme for Ant-Man, released in July 2015, it played a crucial role in shaping the musical identity of the entire series.
Highly recommended for fans of irregular time signatures and those seeking a different flavor from conventional superhero movie music!
Enthralling odd time signatures: Mysterious music with odd meters and complex rhythms (11–20)
Say A Little PrayerDionne Warwick
This classic, which expresses deep love for a partner in the form of a prayer, delicately captures a woman’s feelings as she quietly dedicates her thoughts to the one she loves amid the everyday routine that begins with getting ready in the morning.
Set against the backdrop of war and telling the story of lovers separated by circumstance, its theme of enduring bonds moved many as a universal tale of love.
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1967, it was included on the album “The Windows of the World” and went on to reach No.
4 on the Billboard charts.
The song shines with masterful use of changing meters, inserting 2/4 measures into the verse’s 4/4, and shifting from 4/4 to 3/4 in the chorus to create forward momentum.
It was also featured in the film “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and continues to be cherished across generations.
An eternal standard, it’s especially recommended for moments when you find yourself thinking of someone precious in your daily life, or for those in a long-distance relationship.
Etricot
E, the fourth single by the all-girl band tricot, has drawn global attention as a miracle of odd time signatures.
It’s amazing how each member has the song down so precisely that you almost give up trying to count the meter.
That’s why the 4/4 time in the chorus comes as an oddly comforting relief.
Highly recommended for those seeking a stimulating sound.
Gray SagaChouCho
This is an ambitious work—a translucent ballad that sings of a witch-themed, fantastical world, with lyrics and composition by ChouCho.
The arrangement effectively features the sitar and mandolin to evoke an exotic atmosphere, and by skillfully weaving 5/8 time into the intro and B section against a basic 6/8 meter, it creates a strikingly mysterious, unstable sense of floating.
Released as a single in October 2020, it was used as the ending theme for the TV anime The Journey of Elaina.
The unpredictable rhythmic developments born from the shifting time signatures feel truly magical, making it recommended for fans of fantasy works and for those who want to experience the allure of irregular meters.
DevotionREST ASHORE
It’s one of the signature tracks by a Brooklyn, New York–based math rock band—an emotional piece themed around yearning for light in darkness and self-sacrificial love.
It opens with an irregular 7-beat meter, shifts back to 4/4 in the verse to deliver the lyrics clearly, and then returns with a catchy 4/4 groove in the chorus, making for a deftly crafted structure.
Released in December 2020 as a lead single from the album “Psychogore,” it showcases Erika Butz’s passionate vocals and technical guitar work.
By skillfully balancing the tension and release of shifting time signatures, it’s a must-listen for anyone interested in math rock or emo.