3/4 Rock

I took a music apprec. class a few semesters ago, and the professor pointed out that virtually no rock songs are in 3/4 time.

There's Desaparacidos' "Manana"

But that was all I could think of. Do you know of any others?

Delilah-Tom Jones
Manic Depression- Jimi Hendrix


[Edited on Sep 20, 2005 by PantBloink]

what's the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 again?

About two years of conservatory training?

Instead of having 3 quarter notes per measure, you have 6 eighth notes per measure, with the emphasis on the dotted quarters.

Oh, I forgot Take this Waltz by Leonard Cohen. Duh.

I kind of like it. It gives a really swirling, disorienting feeling

About half of Beck's Mutations.

Hahaha--if you Google "rock songs in 3/4 time" you get a member's journal page!

I think it's just reflective of a general trend in popular music. There isn't nearly as much music, in general, in 3/4 v. 4/4 and 6/8. How many hip hop songs can you think of in 3/4? Folk songs? etc.

*hangs head in shame*

To be more specific,

a measure in 3/4 will sound like DAH dit Dah dit Dah dit

A measure in 6/8 will sound DAH dit dit Dah dit dit

In fact, i think "Manic Depression" is 6/8, not 3/4, but the distinction is a small one.


[Edited on Sep 20, 2005 by PantBloink]

I dunno much 3/4 rock, but Calexico does a ton of their stuff in 6/8. A minor, too. I love them to death.

On the subject of weirdly timed rock songs, "Money" by pink floyd is in 7/8, which is always fun.

And the industrial band Wumpscut has a 3/4 song called "die in winter" which was a real coup for that genre.

Jocko Homo is in 7/4 as well.

Also...
And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda by the Pogues
Sad Songs and Waltzes by Cake

But whether these are in 6/8 or 3/4 or 12/16 or 48/64, I do not know.

Technically, any waltz should be in 3/4.

Hehe, yeah, I was gonna say that. Writing a "waltz" is a little obvious.

That's how I found those last two in my iTunes.

I had an argument with my girlfriend about this. I think we settled that it was 6/8.

WIth arguments like this, it's a wonder you're still together.

I think it's in 6/8 too. 3/4 does not rock. At all.

Yeah, she's a band nerd with actual training. I'm a guy who taught himself how to play and writes songs with 4 chords.

Guess who was right and who was wrong on that one?

Dear New England Conservatory of Music

No, the time I spent at your fine and prestigious college didn't prepare me for the mundane experiences of life; I'll never get a job because of you. But now I see what it was all about: answering questions on a pornsite message board.

Cheers!
--Le Point Blanche

I'm not even going to pretend that I can tell what time something is in.

I'm not sure you wanna admit that, being music editor and all...

3/4 isn't as popular, I don't think, because it's much more difficult to dance to. But since when has that ever bothered me? It's all about the slow songs and waltzes. Here are a few I love:

Death Cab For Cutie - "Styrofoam Plates"
The Good Life - "Night and Day"
The Get Up Kids - "I'll Catch You"
MxPx - "GSF"
The Ataris - "I Won't Spend Another Night Alone"
Elliott Smith - "Waltz #1" AND "Waltz #2 (XO)" AND "In the Lost and Found" AND "Satellite" AND "The White Lady Loves You More" and that's all I can think of at the moment. Elliott didn't discriminate time signatures, that's for sure. Maybe that's why I loved him so. ♥