Timesignature for beauty from pain?

Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqBMYoctFZM

yeahh, well i've been trying to play the piano portian for awhile, i understand the notes [and key ~~ c-minor, play it yourself if you don't belive me]

what's the time signature? 4/4, 3/4, or 6/4 [i don't write well in something/8 time, i don't get that one]??

Answer 1

'Tis in 3/4, I believe.

EDIT : Actually, listening again, it seems more like 6/8 with the stresses.

Anyway, if you're counting in your head while you're playing, I'd count like this :

ONE two three TWO two three :)

Answer 2

I agree with RSLCR's edit... this is probably in 6/8.

Now you say you don't quite inderstand 6/8... let me see if I can help a little...

In 4/4, there are 4 beats per measure, quarter note gets the beat.  In 3/4, there are 3 beats per measure, and quarter note still gets the beat.

Take this idea to 6/8... there are 6 beats per measure, and the Eighth Note gets the beat.  So what does this mean?

Every 8th note is counted as 1 beat... you would have 6 Eighth Notes for every measure, or the equivilant (2 eighth notes is still one quarter... a dotted quarter is still 3 eighth notes).  Does this make sense?

6/8 is usually conducted in 2 (unless it's really slow).  What this does, is it adds emphasis to the ONE and FOUR counts... ONE two three FOUR five six.  Usually the "pirate jig" music is in 6/8... even the SpongeBobSquarePants theme is in 6/8, lol.  6/8 is great for when 3/4 goes too fast.

However, if it is a slow 6/8 like this one, it allows you to add accents to the 3rd eighth note... so the pickup to the strong beat... this would be very awkward if it were written in 3/4, as you would be leading in on beat 3 and then stressing beat 1... You would end up losing where beat 1 is, and would feel "off" trying to count it.  In 6/8, you can also take the accent off of beat 4 and give a fluid 6 beats... if you were in 3/4, you don't have much choice than to keep putting an emphasis on beat 1.

I hope this helps clear it up a little, and gave you reasons to TRY 6/8... you could still write it in 3/4, but I think you would begin to feel frustrated by it because it would still feel "off" somehow.

Anyways, good luck and have fun! :)

*EDIT:  Oh sure- you could write it in 6/4... or 9/16, or 3/2, or 3/8... maybe even 5/8!... The thing is that the song, both through vocals and drums, is done in a triplet feel.  It's obviously some sort of a 3 (either 3/4, 6/8, or 12/8)... the Compound meter of 6/8 lends itself to accenting the appropriate beats naturally while also NATURALLY maintaining the "2" feel and being easily subdivided into triplets... 1-trip-let 2-trip-let.  {It could actually even be in 4, but it would still be a compound meter... making it 12/8... it still naturally subdivides into triplets- 12 eighth notes, divided into groups of 3... [1-trip-let] [2-trip-let] [3-trip-let] [4-trip-let]}.

With 6/4, there will be a lot of triplets trying to line up with a 2 feel in the drums and vocal... you can do it, but it ends up being forced.  6/4 isn't usually subdivided in triplets... it is subdivided in 1&2&3&4&5&6&... very straight and not lending itself to this song at all... not saying that you *can't* subdivide in triplets in 6/4, but it is less common and harder to write.