In level 1 we discussed common time, Half Time and Double Time. In this lesson you will be looking at a similar idea that creates an even slower feel than half time which is generally reffered to as Quarter Time. These different 'feels' involved changes to snare placement that made a groove feel faster or slower without changing the tempo. Quarter Time will generally require the part to be two bars long and you will only play a back beat style snare on beat one of the second bar, so there will be a lot of 'space' in these patterns.

This type of pattern is very common in modern metal styles such as metalcore but has uses across all styles. The huge amount of space around the back allows for the construction of really complex patterns based around this idea, but the intention here is just to introduce you to the idea and show you some relatively simple grooves in this timing.

Listed below are several groove patterns that are in Quarter Time. I have used various ideas for construction but the most important point in all of these patterns is the prominent snare at the start of the second bar.


Example 1

A groove in quarter time


Example 2

A groove in quarter time


Example 3

A groove in quarter time


Example 4

A groove in quarter time


Example 5

A groove in quarter time


Example 6

A groove in quarter time


Example 7

A groove in quarter time


Example 8

A groove in quarter time


TASKS

  • Learn the grooves above up to a tempo of at least 140bpm.
  • Create some 4 bar phrases where this concept is applied to the groove. Remember that this pattern will fill up two bars of the phrase.

To give you a better idea of how this kind of groove can be applied musically I have provided a short piece below.

A short piece demonstrating quarter time 

Lessons

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