Don’t Limit Your Songwriting to 4/4 Time

A 4/4 time signature in music is familiar and pretty simple to create, especially using digital recording tools like Logic or other pre-fabricated loops. Although 4/4 is easier when writing songs, it doesn’t mean it’s always the best choice for your music.

You’ll have a creative edge, and may be able to make a better song, if you experiment with different time signatures.

“Fallin” by Alicia Keys is a prime example.  The groove is in 12/8 time and the beats are divided into three instead of two, which lends itself to a bluesy foundation, and keeps the song very interesting.

The Mission:  Impossible theme from the ’60s and ’70s is another good example.  It uses a 5/4 time signature, and that creates a suspenseful vibe.

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Experiment with time signatures and challenge yourself, and you might just create a masterpiece.