Play better rhythm - 5/8 and 5/4 time signatures

Image 1 of 6

Ex2: 5/4 time signature - Example 2 has a Soundgarden grunge vibe to it with the drum pattern emphasising the five beats in a bar of 5/4. In addition to the odd time signature, the riff repeats using a three bar phrase adding to the overall quirky feel. Kim Thayil would often double the main riff with a single note line an octave higher as in a second guitar part.(Image credit: Mike Goodman)

Tab: 5/4 time signature

For many guitarists, any time signature other than 4/4 can prove a nightmare to play and 'feel'.

Here, we're looking at the irregular time signatures of 5/8 and 5/4. Although both can be subdivided into rhythmic groupings of 2+3 or 3+2, the drums can help as quarter notes (5/4 time) or eighth notes (5/8).

A bar of 5/4 lasts for five beats and seems like a 'stretched' version of 4/4 with the snare often on beats 2, 4 and 5. For 5/8, a bar only lasts for two and a half beats (five eighth notes) often with one snare hit occurring either on the third eighth note (marking the second grouping of three in a 2+3 grouping) or the fourth eighth note (marking the second grouping of two in the grouping 3+2). The two examples in this tutorial show the difference between the two.

Click 'see all pictures' in the picture box for full-sized tab.

Audio: Full track (5/4 and 5/8 time signatures)

Audio: 5/4 playalong

Audio: 5/8 playalong

More about guitar lessons techniques

"There’s plenty for us guitarists to learn – and ‘less is more’ is the overriding lesson": how to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road

"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way

“He’d start, ‘You’ll never guess what I dreamed last night…’ and the groaning would begin”: How Rush marshalled Alex Lifeson’s dreams to write a bona-fide prog-rock classic

See more latest