What Time Signature is Radiohead’s 'Pyramid Song' in?

Radiohead's 'Pyramid Song' explained! I look at the time signature and rhythm of 'Pyramid Song' by Radiohead and try to conclusively explain what is happening in this classic song's unusual feel.

Bossa Nova Example: ‘Água de Beber’ by Antonio Jobim (1963)

[bullsquid]

I'm not a musician, but I absolutely love Radiohead. I just found that I can listen to their songs many times, and they just stay interesting and incredibly atmospheric.
Thank you for helping me understand why that is.

[craigdarlson]

The quavers are 3, 3, 4, 3, 3. This is because 4 triangles (3, 3, 3, 3) and 1 square (4) make a pyramid.

[a_mouse]

The 4/4 time signature is fully revealed at the 2 minute mark, when the drums enter, initially mimicking 33433, then breaking into a full 4/4 swing, while the rest of the band stays locked on 33433. The two patterns beat against each other the rest of the song. I can't imagine how they do this. It's absolute genius.

[karlosed]

4/4 is not a easy time signature anymore, thanks to Radiohead

[DBruce]

Great stuff, really clear and loved the part where you re-wrote it in 3/8 4/8. I also hadn't heard about the Mingus influence. Keep up the great work, but watch out using long clips of audio, you might get the dreaded strike from youtube!

[Unit]

Rather than notating it in 4/4, I'd say this song is an example where notating it as 8/8 might be more useful. 4/4 implies the strong and weak beats being on a 4th, around which we usually synchopate. With this song the piano pattern goes out of its way to only accent the 1st beat of the whole 4 bar chord change pattern.

If we think of it as a swung 8/8, it's easier to understand the 3 - 3 - 4 - 3 - 3 8ths pattern and actually feel it throughout the piano only part, and the drums also become easier to understand. If you say "tacara tacara tacaraca tacara tacara" along with the piano, the song's meter makes sense and feels right.

[sydney-chek]

the fact that its making a pyramid ... the fact that the chords are sort of moving around like theyre glitching .... their minds are so powerful

[HorribleSonofa]

The bossa nova thing really of caught my attention. Never considered it before. Thanks.

[salpuma]

I can honestly say...as a musician and Uber progrock geek...no song has baffled more than this song. That lead in drum fill is so wonderfully disorienting...even for those brief seconds. Great video chap...the metronome portion was enlightening

[justdev]

I stand completely mindfucked. How does Yorke not mess this up playing it live is beyond my comprehension! A true genius.

[TheKennyboy]

When you put the swing metronome alongside the piano it made sooo much more sense and easier to feel the rhythm.

[starphaser]

Great stuff. It's worth mentioning the amazing drumming on Pyramid Song, since it also contributes to the eery, loose feel of the song. Thanks!

[Tulbih]

"As I`m sure you know..."

Yes. Mhm.

[catman]

as soon as you brought in crotchets and quavers i blacked out

[skinnysponge]

If it hasn't already been suggested or done, I think a video over "Reckoner" would be pretty interesting. I've heard there is some hidden meaning in the placement and timing of the lyrics and something to do with a so called "Golden Ratio". Loved this video by the way.

[JBDazen]

7:54 except that song is easy to follow. I've been working on Pyramid Song for ages now and it still trips me up. I've got the piano pattern down pretty well now, but I'm having a hard time timing the singing over the piano rhythm. Thom's phrasing is incredible. I'm sure he's never had to think about it. He probably just feels it. So far, I haven't been able to get there.

[officialpierluk]

Thanks for this analysis this was probably the best explanation i found on the rhythm and time signature of pyramid song, my favorite song of all time :)

[walrusjunior]

“What time signature is your song?”
“Yes”

[darrenbrown]

So glad that you picked up the second important aspect where the chords shift on different beats! Others have already touched on the subdivided rhythm but it's nice to see my hunch was right :3. Great stuff man

[ekboprod]

David Bennet's channel is in my opinion the most interesting in terms of music, David offers quality content, fair and enriching, we notice serious work and an infectious passion, despite the number of people who offer the same content, it is rare to find this quality. I am often reluctant to write comments, I will however leave these few words...