21 Legendary Odd-Time Drum Grooves

0:00 - Introduction
Odd time signatures are a hot topic in the drum community. While classical composers were already writing with odd time signatures in the early 20th century, pop/rock and jazz musicians began incorporating them into their music beginning in the mid-to-late 1950s. Since then, many legendary recordings in odd times have been released and have become household names in the drumming world.

This video covers 21 Legendary Odd-Time Grooves that every drummer should know. The grooves on this list span nearly five decades and cover styles ranging from alternative rock and soundtrack music to jazz, grunge, and progressive metal.

This list was created by surveying the Drumeo community and other social media communities, and then narrowed down by several pro drummers. See if your favorite grooves made the list as we count down from number 21!

21. 0:46 - “Paranoid Android” – Radiohead
20. 02:29 - “Times Like These” – Foo Fighters
19. 04:52 - “Heart Of The Sunrise” – Yes
18. 07:51 - “The Crunge” – Led Zeppelin
17. 09:43 - “Changes” – Yes
16. 11:23 - “Whipping Post” – The Allman Brothers Band
15. 13:32 - “Them Bones” – Alice In Chains
14. 14:44 - “Turn It On Again” – Genesis
13. 18:08 - “Spoonman” – Soundgarden
12. 20:20 - “Keep It Greasey” – Frank Zappa
11. 23:28 - “Master Of Puppets” – Metallica
10. 25:57 - “Here Comes The Sun” – The Beatles
9. 28:02 - “The Sound Of Muzak” – Porcupine Tree
8. 30:56 - “Seven Days” – Sting
7. 32:25 - “The Ocean” – Led Zeppelin
6. 34:00 - “YYZ” – Rush
5. 35:42 - “Schism” – Tool
4. 37:39 - “Money” – Pink Floyd
3. 38:43 - “Take Five” – Dave Brubeck Quartet
2. 41:12 - “Tom Sawyer” – Rush
1. 43:07 - “Theme From Mission: Impossible” – Lalo Schifrin

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[BrandonToews]

I hope you all enjoy some crazy time signatures!😁

[perpetualgrimace]

I appreciate that there is an odd number of these

[prinzidrums]

Drumeo, please post more of this guy. I was happily surprised at how straightforward, and understated this content was in comparison to.. let’s face it.. more clickbaity/tired lessons about paradiddles. Solid breakdowns of lesser-known and useful grooves. Thx Brandon 👍🏼

[Andrew-zbhw]

Seeing the Bruford groove thrown in there made me really happy.

[waltzraghu]

"What do you wanna name your band?"

"Yes"

[soccerringettedad]

I can't believe you tackled Keep it Greasy! Insane! Bravo and thanks for this!

[theatremad]

Bill Bruford and Vinnies grooves were insane. Neil pearts cygnus X-1 is a great demo of mathematical drumming too. Neil has so many including the Trees.

[joelmartinez]

Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel. It is 7/4, but splits phrases into (3+4) and (4+3). It has a bar of 3/4 & a bar 4/4 in the instrumental intro, then at the verse, switches to a bar of 4/4 & a bar of 3/4. Unique structure. It cost me an audition, which is why I will never forget it.

[nicklleite]

Brandon is a great teacher!
Please do more of this with Primus, King Crimson, ELP and more of prog classics!

[joaquinlezcano]

I never liked The Crunge, but John Bonham was so good that even in not so good/ bad songs by Led Zeppelin, he shines. Another reason why is rightly rated

[evanberner]

YYZ is also the airport code for Toronto Pearson International Airport, and to me, it kind of feels like the hustle and bustle of an airport.

[MerlinusAmbrosius]

15 step is definitely one of my favorite grooves and songs.

[brianmcguire]

The drummer here just did an amazing explanation of the keep it greasy groove. I had transcribed it years ago, as many other drummers have, and found that the illusive aspect of the drum groove was greatly in part because of the orchestration of all the other voices in the piece, ie bass and guitar etc. Here though is the first time I've heard a YouTube drummer make that point when explaining a break down of this famous beat. Great job! Very estute! Again, the timing of this drummer is spot on on all the songs recorded here

[julianregulusfuego]

I think master of puppets is just the result of lars not knowing how to count

[zakkariwatson]

Everyone of the vids with Brandon you guys have been putting up are absolutely fantastic! Such a great instructor and really captures what he is showing soo well!

[kdailey]

Whipping Post blew my mind. It's one of my favorite songs from my favorite band and I always thought it was in 11/8 and counted 123 123 123 12. NIce to finally see it written out the correct way.

[ajin]

Loved Troy Wright's Plini's Electric Sunrise. The odd time + polyrhythms are just awesome

[tomieilamo]

I love how Bill Bruford looks like he is just on a vacation having fun while playing an odd-time Yes song

[edd]

I really like how straightforward and easily to understand you are and you're really nice breakdowns! Very nicely done!

[trapkat]

Great demonstrations and the grooves are very well played.