The Secret to Making Odd Meter Feel Natural

Neil Chan
Jul 2
1 min read

f you've ever felt stuck playing only in 4/4 or 3/4, it's time to break out of the box. In my original song Everlasting Life from the album The Word, I explore odd meters—specifically 7/8 and 9/8—and how they can bring new life to your music. These time signatures may seem intimidating at first, but once you find the groove, they open up a world of rhythmic creativity.

In this video, I break down how to feel these meters using Carnatic hand patterns and teach you how to count, clap, and groove along with the music. You'll also learn how to apply these rhythms to your own compositions and arrangements.

If you're interested in digging deeper, I’ve got free fingerstyle guitar guides and my online course Fingerstyle for the World, which helps you learn to arrange music for solo guitar from beginner to advanced.