| Investigate Layers of Sound
Section 1 Examine 7/4 Meter
Listen to 7/4 Meter
- Listen to "Black
to Gray." Pay close attention to the overall feel of the song.
- Now listen to the song again, this time paying careful
attention to the number of beats per measure. Note that the meter of
this tune is 7/4, meaning that there are 7 beats per measure. When compared
to the more frequently used 3/4 (as in a waltz) and 4/4 meter signatures,
the 7/4 meter is sometimes considered an "unusual" one.
Analyze 7/4 Meter
- Listen again to "Black
to Gray" and note how the beats are counted off in two different
ways.
first
as: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
then
as: 1 - 2 - 3 - 1
- 2 - 1 - 2
- In the second example, the seven beats of the measure
are counted off as 3+2+2. This is helpful when the first, fourth, and
sixth beats are felt as the strongest ones, as indicated in the following
diagram:
Practice 7/4
Meter
- Listen to the song several times, counting along
with both methods shown above. You might also clap along, accenting
the appropriate beats. Be sure you hear the beginning of each vocal
phrase when it lands on beat 1.
- You might find this exercise challenging. This is
because it is not completely obvious where each measure begins. This
makes the 7/4 meter signature intentionally subtle. Be persistent. When
you feel you are "lost" with the meter, stop the audio file and restart
it from the beginning.
- If after several attempts you still feel lost when
you are counting, listen to the 7/4
meter signature a few times for guidance.
- Complete Section 1 on your worksheet to describe
your reaction to the 7/4 meter signature in this song.
Now continue to Section 2.
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