3/3 is waltz. then what is 5/5?

Question

i was listening to this jazz song. at first i thought it was waltz cos it's waltzy. then i counted and it doesnt fit the 3 profile. i kept counting and i realized it has 5 in one circle.

what is this called? is it still waltz? is waltz all "odd"? 3,5,7.9?

Answer 1

A waltz is actually 3/4 time.  3/3 time doesn't exist.  Neither does 5/5 time.  If you have a link to the song that you could post here, that would be helpful! :-)

Answer 2

Mezzo is correct. A waltz is in 3/4 time.  Manic depression by Jimi Hendrix is a waltz, for example.

Answer 3

What jazz song are you listening? Is it Take Five? Take Five is in 5/4. 5 beats in one measure.  

Answer 4

You are probably thinking of 5/8 time.  Many years ago Dave Brubeck recorded an album he called Time Out in which he introduced Take Five, in 5/8.  He also played a lot of other time signatures on that album.  Blue Rhondo Ala Turk comes to mind.  I don't remember the time signature on that one, but it was a killer.  

Answer 5

A waltz is only 1 very specific type of piece that is written in 3/4 time. The waltz has its own unique characteristics in addition to being in 3/4.   If something is in 3/4 time, that doesn't mean it has to be a waltz...it could be many other things.

5/4 time doesn't really have a name...at least not for us.  There are a lot of Eastern European dances in 5/8 (Bulgarian, Hungarian, etc.).