What’s the best time signature for techno?

Techno production will almost always be in 4/4 time signatures, simply because the tools guide you there automatically. But it’s great to realise that the backbone of much techno could also be considered 2/4 or even 1/4. We introduce the term “rhythmic cell” to help us wrap our mind around this!

Contents:
0:00 day one lesson one
0:34 Rhythmic Cells
2:12 Music Theory
2:37 Take Ownership
2:42 xysecret

[phurniture]

I absolutely love how you think deeply about these concepts and explore them. The best channel for people to think creatively about the genre of techno.

[Artes.Antorcha]

oscar!! i was out for a while! but im back producing... and i just called to say i loved you! ♥ love from buenos aires

[lecabinethermetique]

It took me sooo many years since I started producing electronic music to realise this it kind of embarasses me now. I come from punk-rock and indie-rock which is all based on 4/4 phrases and changes (sometimes 3/4 but not very often), so when I realized this I think it was one of the most eye-opening and freeing things about producing techno.

[d_xd]

I made a very cool song that starts at 4/4, but then switches to 20/16 (I guess you could say 5/4, but I wrote the melody in all 16th notes) at the middle and 21/16. It was actually pretty fun doing weird complex time signatures.

[cybergwen]

You made me go back and listen to my 5/4 over 7/8 track from a year ago 😅

[kaepsele]

Finally checked out your Bandcamp and it slaps! 💪

[laurentbouchard]

Hey Oscar. For a few seconds I thought it was Monday ;-). Even in August you think of us. Thank you!!!!

And don’t forget, nothing can replace Fondation of Electronic Music 1 & 2 to learn and be autonomous

[debu]

I had no idea XY was your label !
Glad to have both EPs on vinyl ;)

[DNJLWL]

Yes, 3 bars for the kicks with 4 kicks. Some 5 or 7 steps syncopated (?) other patterns for anything else. So much fun!

[clementpchiit]

I’ve made a track in 5/4 it work pretty well doing a 3 and 2 pattern line. And I kick every beat like a 4/4. It give a weird feeling

[gacstibi]

we need more 8 or even 4 step sequencers

[_Inore_]

Once I made a song in 9/8, but counting was like a 4/4 with an extra eighth (1-&-2-&-3-&-4-e-&). That extra upbeat on the 4 was super bouncy and gave a different but very nice kind of movement. I think I'll use this type of signature again! Very recommended! 😁

[JimJohnMarks]

Year or so ago got commissioned to make an electronic version of a very old Greek hymn (Agne Parthene) which isn’t even really in a time signature because it’s chanted, but the pulse of it felt like 6/8 or 3/4 so I went in that direction. SUPER challenging. But it gets that bug ONE which gives the piece the drive that a good waltz has which makes it still seem danceable & not like a math piece.

Of course, I’ve got a thing I’m doing now where every loop involved is empty for the last half note… except every loop is a different length so when those empty spaces line up keep changing. Hard to make into a piece with any real sense of an arrangement, but fun things happen when you use prime numbers in music.

[Mianevemma]

Recently got back into (amateurish) production and absolutely appreciate this content! Insight that gets shared by you fascinating and eye-opening. Wish that would have been available on this scale15 years ago. A question of mine would be; to anyone actually), what would be essential sample packs (besides Goldbxxy) to have for techno and maybe oldskool house production? Thanks in advance!

[darkdrumhead]

I'm starting with drum and bass 🙂

[faRadDJ]

Great tutorial as always! How about 3/4 patterns?

[Andrew-rzqt]

Oscar my friend give 6/8 a wee shot goes nicely with dotted basslines maroder ish.

[cassettedisco]

Amigo siempre es fantástico ver tus videos gracias por tus trucos y consejos, saludos desde la tierra del taco 🌮 México 🇲🇽

[Bukkador_Handpan]

Thanks a lot for this video! I love, how you explain... Its very interesting for me, because my instrument comes actually from another part of music. But I would love to combine it... Polyrhythm is a bit thing, also what you explained. So thank you very much, and maybe you are interested to, what kind of music I create ;)

[sihtam]

There's an argument to be made that a lot of house music is in 2/4 rather than 4/4