8/8 Timing.....

[moto_psycho]

I am having a hard time deciding whether this certain song is in 8/8 or 4/4 timing, i know that 8/8 gets different beats (2 compound, 1 simple) but still i can't decide between the two, can someone give me tips on this?

[brainpolice]

99.99% chance it's in 4/4. Because i've never seen a single piece of music that has an 8/8 signature.

[moto_psycho]

Michael Tipett - Concerto for Double String Orchestra Mvt 1

[brainpolice]

What's the point? Why not 2 measures of 4/4? Or just 4/4? Why 8/8? I don't get.

[moto_psycho]

Different beats? different stressed notes? i dont know

[FINGERS76]

99.99% chance it's in 4/4. Because i've never seen a single piece of music that has an 8/8 signature.

Because you've never seen it, it doesn't exist? I've never seen an arrogant moron before but they must exist because I see your posts.

[precario]

No need to be offensive, he just said what he thought that was right.

[Balex the Shizzle]

that was a bit uncalled for!
brainpolice was just expressing his opinion, and he has a good point as 4/4 is the most common time
fair enough to disagree with him, but that was a bit too far, brainpolice is one of the more knowledgable members on this forum and his posts have helped lots of people.

anyway, i am really a noob to theory, but how does 4/4 time actualy differ from 8/8 time, surely they are the same total length of notes in each bar...

[frostie]

As with all time signatures, its where the beat is felt to lye. I don't understand 8/8 very well myself but I believe it is a combination of 6/8 and 1/4. So the first three, or last three beats which ever you prefer are felt as 8th note = 8th note triplet. and the last one is felt as normal.
Its a bit confusing but its all in the feeling.

[brainpolice]

I'll ignore the offensive comment but i'm still trying to figure out how 8/8 makes any sense wqhen you could just be in 4/4, or two measures of 4/4, or 8 8th notes in 4/4. LOL. How would it feel any different?

[Ryan Layton]

its like the difference between 3/4 and 6/8. they are, for the most part, the same, but because of how the notes are broken up and where the accents fall, they are different.

[brainpolice]

I get what you're saying ryan: But how exactly? What exactly is the subdivision for "8/8"? Surely, if we are to apply the deal between 3/4 and 6/8, to 4/4 and 8/8, then 8/8 would be felt like: ONE two three four FIVE six seven eight. But then, what's the point? Why not use two measures of 4/4? It feels the same. Why not just go ONE two three four ONE two three four, twice? It feels the same.

[b2]

I found this from another website:

Irregular meters such as 5/4 or 7/8 should be acceptable provided the beat subdivisions
are made explicit: e.g. 5/4 as (3+2)/4 or 5/4 as (2+3)/4 or 8/8 (3+3+2)/8, etc

So I believe you have to be given the beat subdivision to play it correct.
It can be 3+3+2, 2+3+3 or 3+2+3

For 3+3+2 you would play
Strong-weak-weak-Strong-weak-weak-Strong-weak
For each bar you will then have 3 beats. And the two first subdivide
the beat in 3 parts, and the last in two parts.

8/8 is called irregular or complex meter wich is a combination of
compound and simple meter.

If you play 4 beats pr bar then you would have 4/4 and not 8/8 I believe.
8/8 meter should have 3 beats pr bar.

But... I am quit new to this stuff and I am not shure.
Some of this I found on the Internet and the other in some
books I have. I have just started to study this stuff so sorry if I am
wrong here. But for me this looks correct.

[frostie]

Yeah thats kinda what i was talking about. Nobody paid me any attention though. am I just not worthy?

[b2]

Frostie, all people are worthy
I read all the answers before I made my post and all are important.
Both you and moto_psycho was the first to write about different
beat subdivisions
Next time use BIG font and we will see you