Half time (music)
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In music, half time is a type of feel that alters meter (music) division by essentially doubling the tempo resolution. It is not to be confused with cut time or odd time. Though notes usually get the same value relative to the tempo, the way the beats are divided is altered. While music typically has a backbeat on beats two and four, half time would increase the interval between backbeats to double, thus making it it on beat three and seven (counted out of an 8 beat measure, common practice in half time). Essentially, a half time 'groove' is one that expands one measure over the course of two.
A classic example is the half time shuffle, which is used extensively in hip-hop and some blues music. Some of the variations of the basic groove are notoriously difficult to play on drum set. It is also a favorite in some pop and rock tunes. Two classic examples are 'Rosanna' by Toto (Jeff Porcaro on drums), and 'Fool In The Rain' by Led Zeppelin.
It is important to realize that while in half time, the feel of notes are chopped in half, but the actual time value remains the same. For example, at the same tempo, 8th notes would sound like 16ths. In the case of the half time shuffle, triplets sound like 16th note triplets, etc. By preserving the tempo, the beat is stretched by 2x.
[edit] Some well known songs and users of half time feels
- 'Just The Way You Are' by Billy Joel
- 'Rosanna' by Toto
- 'Fool In The Rain' by Led Zeppelin
- Way Cool Jr. by Ratt
- 'Enter Sandman' by Metallica ('Sleep with one eye open' section)
- 'When The World Ends' by Dave Matthews Band
- The opening theme from Hey Arnold!
- 'Home at Last' by Aja
- 'Mike and Tom's Excellent Adventure' by Dream Theater (Mike Portnoy)
- Bernard Purdie
- Jeff Porcaro
- John Bonham
- Amit, a drum and bass producer[1]
- most of the dubstep producers
[edit] See also
- Rhythm
- http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/jeffporcaroshuffle.html Video of Jeff Porcaro demonstrating various half time shuffle patterns.
