Odd time drum beat at 110 BPM
Press Play for a odd time drum beat at 110 BPM. It starts with 7/8 Rock (3+2+2), and you can switch to 5/4 Jazz (3+2). One eighth-note beat lasts 273 ms.
Playing over a odd time drum beat at 110 BPM
110 BPM is a comfortable middle tempo for odd time. Use it to play whole songs or long improvisations without stopping; the fills every few bars tell you where each phrase ends.
What plays at 110 BPM
7/8 Rock (3+2+2) is written at 110 BPM, so 110 BPM is its home tempo. In 7/8 at this tempo a quarter note lasts 545 ms, an eighth note 273 ms and a sixteenth 136 ms, which is the spacing of the hi-hat you hear. Switch to 5/4 Jazz (3+2) on the page and the tempo stays at 110 BPM.
How long is a phrase at 110 BPM?
Knowing how long a phrase lasts helps you plan a song, a solo or a recording take. The drums play a fill at the end of every four or eight bars, so these are the lengths you will hear.
| Length | Time |
|---|---|
| One bar of 7/8 | 1.9 seconds |
| Four-bar phrase | 7.6 seconds |
| Eight-bar section | 15 seconds |
| Three-minute song | about 94 bars |
How a odd time drum beat works
Odd meters are easier when you count them as groups of two and three. The 7/8 groove is grouped 3+2+2, and the 5/4 jazz groove is grouped 3+2. Listen for the kick and snare marking the start of each group.
How to play along
Count the groups out loud: "one-two-three, one-two, one-two" for 7/8. Play a simple riff that starts on the first group, then try one that starts on the second. Once the grouping feels natural, stop counting and just follow the drums.