Odd time drum beat at 90 BPM
Press Play for a odd time drum beat at 90 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 333 ms.
Playing over a odd time drum beat at 90 BPM
90 BPM is at the slow end for odd time. Slow tempos show every timing slip, so it is the best place to learn a new part: play it until it feels boring, then move up.
What plays at 90 BPM
7/8 Rock (3+2+2) is written at 110 BPM, the closest of this style's grooves to 90 BPM, so it opens first and plays a little slower than written. In 7/8 at this tempo a quarter note lasts 667 ms, an eighth note 333 ms and a sixteenth 167 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 90 BPM.
How long is a phrase at 90 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 | 2.3 seconds |
| Four-bar phrase | 9.3 seconds |
| Eight-bar section | 19 seconds |
| Three-minute song | about 77 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.