7/4 time signature in video games

2008-12-13 04:53:49 pm

bsidwell has a point, but it's not necessary to alter the time signature to account for triplets, because the notation system we use allows for them already.

The only difficulty people usually have with x/4 and 2x/8 is 3/4-6/8, because the difference between a fast 3/4 and a slower 6/8 is literally the difference between a strong and not-quite-strong pulse.

DRybes

2008-12-14 07:04:42 am

O Zlda?

Actually, 6/8 can represent compound meter... if a song is in 6/8, the measure may be split into 3 parts (as though it were 3/4), or it may be split into two parts, with a beat representing a dotted quarter... I did some homework and this stuff is rather complicated.

MrSparkle

2008-12-15 12:51:03 am

Doin Good

I read each post this thread gets, but half of it dumbfounds me. I'm much better at finding the beat of a peice, I think (give or take a multiple), now to just slightly grasp the art of finding the measure in music (same multiple issue would apply). Although I've managed to enjoy music just fine without you people's sophisicated beats and measures...

Matthew_Collinson

2009-01-09 07:17:46 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Quote from tjp7154:

Quote from Acryte:

Hey guys I was wondering what this song form mother 3 for N64's time signatures are:

Sounds like 2/2 to me...

Or maybe a 12/16? Perhaps? Or 12/8 very fast? I have no idea.

Matthew_Collinson

2009-01-10 08:57:49 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

You know "Snowy Mountain... for Ice Cap" in Sonic Adventure? There's a part in that song which I can't work out what the time signature is. After counting the total number of beats, I counted 48 8th notes, or 24 crotchets. It can't be 6/4 or 12/8 for 4 bars, it's got to be something like 7/8 + 5/8 or something or a compound signature that has the same mathematical value as 12/8 (7+5 = 12).

rolandoftheeld

2009-01-22 04:48:26 pm

I realize that this is not game-related, but I felt like offering up the most convoluted time signature piece I've ever attempted to play: No Place Like London, from Sweeney Todd.

It has 3/4, 7/8, 12/8, 6/8, and 9/16 in the space of about 2 pages.

Later, it has a section where the following time signatures are played for ONE measure apiece, in this order:
3/2, 2/2, 3/2, 6/8, 2/2, 3/2, 3/4, 5/8, 9/8, 3/4, 9/8, 4/4, 3/2, 2/2. And then it REPEATS.

Needless to say, I was never able to play this.

Nihilus

2009-02-02 09:04:28 pm

The title screen for the Dawn of War 2 multiplayer beta starts with some weird timings that I can't quite place, then gets into 7/4

Enhasa

2009-05-10 07:35:44 pm

everybody wanna tell you the meaning of music

This entire thread was started by Psyvariar 2's TLB, so it's with some embarrassment that I later realized that actually all "big" boss themes for both Psyvariar games are in 7/4. Clearly Sato wanted to convey that exotic sinister feel. Here are links for you. I had to find superplays on zoome because some of these aren't on youtube.

Psyvariar: Medium Unit: 12:05 and 15:15. MU is the original release of Psyvariar. There was a new version called Psyvariar Revision that changed a lot of things, including rearranging the music. The new version of the song at 15:15 changed a lot, sounding closer to the version in 2 at 18:55 below. Revision probably has my favorite soundtrack in the series actually (all awesome though of course). Raw and dark MU feel, but not as sparse. If you want to hear it, you can try the superplay at super-play.co.uk

Psyvariar 2: 12:25 and 18:55.

pingosimon

2009-05-12 03:15:42 pm

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Subterranean Hell intro.

I like how it goes 7/4 6/4 5/4 6/4 before it loops

spineshark

2009-05-12 08:44:59 pm

新世紀進歩的羽扇子音楽

Quote from bmn:

Quote:

<bsidwell> Beatmania does non-4/4?
<BoltR> Pretty sure
<xnate> odd times ftfw

IIDX and DDR have Holic in 7/4.

I know this post is old old old in this thread, but there's some hot and steamy free time action in 100% minimoo-g. It doesn't even have measure bars =/ Also PentaCube is (unsurprisingly) 5/4, though I know that post is older than Gold CS so it's not like anyone even knew about it then.

Closer to the topic, Stage 4 of Imperishable Night is 11/4 with a 4/4 section in the middle.

Also, I'm stupid and can't tell if MoF's title screen is in 7/4 or if that's just the melodic phrases seeming to be 7 beats long for some reason.

Enhasa

2009-05-13 01:33:30 am

everybody wanna tell you the meaning of music

You guys just wish these other games were as awesome and have as awesome music as Psyvariar. Other games in the first post excluded hoho.

spineshark

2009-05-13 04:02:58 pm

新世紀進歩的羽扇子音楽

Haha well, I spent a couple hours last night listening to random stuff and wasn't going to have absolutely nothing to show for it Tongue

Matthew_Collinson

2009-05-17 07:27:28 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

It's probably nothing, but here's some random videogame songs I've found with odd time signatures (yeah, I know this topic says 7/4, but odd time signatures in general are cool), anyway:

Bad Boss Boogie (or whatever it's called), i.e. the boss theme from Donkey Kong Country has a couple of "odd" time signature... the entire piece consists of:
1 bar of 2/4
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
1 bar of 7/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
2 bars of 7/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
4 bars of 4/4
-- repeats--
Is this the only song in the DKC series that has ANY odd time signature (i.e. not 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 etc)

Also, Snowy Mountain from Sonic Adventure seems to have a small part of odd time signatures... after 24 bars of 4/4 it has:
3 bars of 5/8
1 bar of 6/8 (or 3/4)
2 bars of 5/8
1 bar of 6/8 (or 3/4)
1 bar of 9/8

Mario Kart Super Circuit's: GP Results theme is in 11/8 (just like Mario Kart 64 XD)

Also, from a certain site (not sure which of these if any are mentioned):
A Link to the Past's Final Battle music is in 7/8
Ganondorf Battle from Ocarina of Time is mostly in 23/16 (or 13/16 + 10/16)
Fairy Flying (from OoT) consists of 1 bar of 11/16, 1 bar of 4/4, then a loop of 4 bars of 13/16, and 4 bars of 10/16.

Water Ruins from Jet Force Gemini has a part in 30/8 (split up into 3 bars of 7/8 and 1 bar of 9/8)

The Boss Battle from Jet Force Gemini has a part with 24/16 (2 bars of 9/16 + 1 bar of 6/16)

The Italy race BGM from Road Rash 3 is in 7/4

The splash screen menu for On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is in 5/8

Part of Hurry Up! from Final Fantasy VII has 3 bars of 7/4 followed by 3 bars of 7/8 followed by 2 bars of 4/4, then 3 bars of 7/8

Feel My Blade from FFIX has:
1 bar if 5/4
2 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/4
a few bars of 4/4 (too lazy to count), then (the best part):
1 bar of 7/8
1 bar of 9/8
1 bar of 6/8
1 bar of 5/4
1 bar of 7/8
1 bar of 9/8
1 bar of 6/8
1 bar of 7/8
1 bar of 6/8
1 bar of 5/4
and then it's pretty much 4/4 until it goes back to the above mixture of awesome time signatures.

It's probably nothing, but here's some random videogame songs I've found with odd time signatures (yeah, I know this topic says 7/4, but odd time signatures in general are cool), anyway:

Bad Boss Boogie (or whatever it's called), i.e. the boss theme from Donkey Kong Country has a couple of "odd" time signature... the entire piece consists of:
1 bar of 2/4
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
1 bar of 7/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
2 bars of 7/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
3 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/8
4 bars of 4/4
-- repeats--
Is this the only song in the DKC series that has ANY odd time signature (i.e. not 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 etc)

Also, Snowy Mountain from Sonic Adventure seems to have a small part of odd time signatures... after 24 bars of 4/4 it has:
3 bars of 5/8
1 bar of 6/8 (or 3/4)
2 bars of 5/8
1 bar of 6/8 (or 3/4)
1 bar of 9/8

Mario Kart Super Circuit's: GP Results theme is in 11/8 (just like Mario Kart 64 XD)

Also, from a certain site (not sure which of these if any are mentioned):
A Link to the Past's Final Battle music is in 7/8
Ganondorf Battle from Ocarina of Time is mostly in 23/16 (or 13/16 + 10/16)
Fairy Flying (from OoT) consists of 1 bar of 11/16, 1 bar of 4/4, then a loop of 4 bars of 13/16, and 4 bars of 10/16.

Water Ruins from Jet Force Gemini has a part in 30/8 (split up into 3 bars of 7/8 and 1 bar of 9/8)

The Boss Battle from Jet Force Gemini has a part with 24/16 (2 bars of 9/16 + 1 bar of 6/16)

The Italy race BGM from Road Rash 3 is in 7/4

The splash screen menu for On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is in 5/8

Part of Hurry Up! from Final Fantasy VII has 3 bars of 7/4 followed by 3 bars of 7/8 followed by 2 bars of 4/4, then 3 bars of 7/8

Feel My Blade from FFIX has:
1 bar if 5/4
2 bars of 4/4
1 bar of 5/4
a few bars of 4/4 (too lazy to count), then (the best part):
1 bar of 7/8
1 bar of 9/8
1 bar of 6/8
1 bar of 5/4
1 bar of 7/8
1 bar of 9/8
1 bar of 6/8
1 bar of 7/8
1 bar of 6/8
1 bar of 5/4
and then it's pretty much 4/4 until it goes back to the above mixture of awesome time signatures.

ShinerCCC

2009-06-06 05:52:32 am

Yes, a worthless avatar riding my posts.

Didn't I mention Psyvariar 2 a while back? Love that game btw.

Silk Worm's Wave 8 is in 7/4 too.

Speaking of DDR/ITG, ! starts out in a kind of lopsided 7/4...three bars of 4/4 and a bar of 2/4 until you get to the two up arrow hands in the expert chart. But that's the only official chart that has meter changes, as far as I know.

Toes

2009-07-05 03:20:06 am

I'm too lazy to look into this alot, but I did notice that the first part of the boss battle music for Majora's Mask is in 7/4.

I'm not completely sure but I hear some 6/4 and 13/8 or 15/8.

Beenman500

2009-07-05 11:01:10 am

Joke of all trades

can someone tell me the time signiture of the baldur's gate theme, its been really pissing me off... it might just be 4/4 but i just can't quite get that to work

ColonelFatso

2009-07-06 02:57:44 am

completely or predominantly 5/4.

Phoenix3568

2009-07-10 10:08:47 pm

Procrastination Nation!

Quote from rolandoftheeld:

I realize that this is not game-related, but I felt like offering up the most convoluted time signature piece I've ever attempted to play: No Place Like London, from Sweeney Todd.

It has 3/4, 7/8, 12/8, 6/8, and 9/16 in the space of about 2 pages.

Later, it has a section where the following time signatures are played for ONE measure apiece, in this order:
3/2, 2/2, 3/2, 6/8, 2/2, 3/2, 3/4, 5/8, 9/8, 3/4, 9/8, 4/4, 3/2, 2/2. And then it REPEATS.

Needless to say, I was never able to play this.

Never play Stravinsky.

Anyways, FF7 (in the battle square @ gold saucer) has various asymmetrical time signatures in it.

Valkyrie Profile also has convoluted time signatures, but I'm not going to find ones that are specifically 7/4. more likely they're 7/8 than 7/4 due to subdivisions.

ZIF

2009-07-12 11:48:47 pm

Norfair in Metroid on NES. Thats my favorite odd meter song. I will never know really what time it is in. But my guesses are 13/8 or 6/8, 7/8 or 3/8, 3/8, 3/8, 4/8. Whatever pulse you want to feel. I'll take my 6/8, 7/8 any day and forget counting to 13.

Enhasa

2009-07-17 01:22:34 am

everybody wanna tell you the meaning of music

I was listening to some Diadra Empty when I was testing new SMPlayer build and needed an OST and was surprised to learn I still had this on my HD, right on my desktop, and amazingly one of the songs has a 7/4 section. Amazingly because the rest of that game's music is stock 4/4 trance stuff. Still, it grew on me a bit, and even if it's not my favorite genre of music I can appreciate why tranceheads (ie 99% of the internet who plays Japanese games) hold it in such high esteem. This is past the two songs (weapon select and between stages) that I already liked, although to be fair those are a couple of the non-trance songs.

No link because I'm too lazy to figure out what stage this is.

DRybes

2009-07-22 01:09:38 am

O Zlda?

Quote from Enhasa:

I was listening to some Diadra Empty when I was testing new SMPlayer build and needed an OST and was surprised to learn I still had this on my HD, right on my desktop, and amazingly one of the songs has a 7/4 section. Amazingly because the rest of that game's music is stock 4/4 trance stuff. Still, it grew on me a bit, and even if it's not my favorite genre of music I can appreciate why tranceheads (ie 99% of the internet who plays Japanese games) hold it in such high esteem. This is past the two songs (weapon select and between stages) that I already liked, although to be fair those are a couple of the non-trance songs.

No link because I'm too lazy to figure out what stage this is.

Heh, if this particular song is a "revered" one I'd be interested in a link. Maybe I could demonstrate "In the world of Trance, the compound-meter song is king."

To the guy who mentioned JFG's Water Ruins, I remember that as an especially haunting piece for the environment. That game has a well-themed soundtrack; if I remember correctly, parts of a few of the songs go into free time.

[quote="Enhasa"]
I was listening to some Diadra Empty when I was testing new SMPlayer build and needed an OST and was surprised to learn I still had this on my HD, right on my desktop, and amazingly one of the songs has a 7/4 section. Amazingly because the rest of that game's music is stock 4/4 trance stuff. Still, it grew on me a bit, and even if it's not my favorite genre of music I can appreciate why tranceheads (ie 99% of the internet who plays Japanese games) hold it in such high esteem. This is past the two songs (weapon select and between stages) that I already liked, although to be fair those are a couple of the non-trance songs.

No link because I'm too lazy to figure out what stage this is.
[/quote]

Heh, if this particular song is a "revered" one I'd be interested in a link. Maybe I could demonstrate "In the world of Trance, the compound-meter song is king."

To the guy who mentioned JFG's Water Ruins, I remember that as an especially haunting piece for the environment. That game has a well-themed soundtrack; if I remember correctly, parts of a few of the songs go into free time.