Who killed 3/4 time?

[lowrider]

I've been listening to a lot of old Bob Dylan and others from back then lately. Dylan wrote a lot of songs in 3/4, so did the other folkies. Woody Guthrie wrote a lot in 3/4, so did Arlo. In the early 60's, pop songs used it, but then it seems to have just disappeared.

So did Rock, kill 3/4 time? The British invasion? I'll bet Garcia played 3/4 songs before they formed the Dead, he did with Grisman later. So what happened?

Is 3/4 time just not cool enough anymore?

[poopsidoo]

Originally Posted by lowrider

I've been listening to a lot of old Bob Dylan and others from back then lately. Dylan wrote a lot of songs in 3/4, so did the other folkies. Woody Guthrie wrote a lot in 3/4, so did Arlo. In the early 60's, pop songs used it, but then it seems to have just disappeared.



So did Rock, kill 3/4 time? The British invasion? I'll bet Garcia played 3/4 songs before they formed the Dead, he did with Grisman later. So what happened?



Is 3/4 time just not cool enough anymore?

I think 20% of the songs I do are 3/4

[Earl49]

It might be the "red car" syndrome. When you own a red car, suddenly you see a lot more of them in traffic. They were there all along, you just did not notice. I have not counted but would bet that 15-20% of my repertoire is in 3/4 time.

[Goodallboy]

I use it often when the muse directs.

[Italuke]

Wearing my persnickety theory nerd cap, are you sure you're talking 3/4 and not a compound of 4/4 or 2/4? That is, one of the x/8 meters?

Many of those old ones are actually 6/8 or 12/8, rarely 9/8.

But yeah, the compound feel is much less prominent now. Same for true 3/4.

[lowrider]

You guys who say that you do 20% 3/4 time songs, are any of them new songs?

[mc1]

The time signatures they were a changin'!

[lowrider]

Originally Posted by mc1

The time signatures they were a changin'!

Exactly. I heard Neil Young sing “The Times They are a Changing” and it made me put this up. Dylan wrote a lot in 3/4, but then he stopped. Why?

Maybe it was the Beatles, they killed 3/4 right after they killed Paul!

[cliff_the_stiff]

My current favorite composition uses 3/4 (i actually think 6/8, but I struggle to define the difference between them.)
Pop of course uses the 4/4 formula robbing pachabel of his Cannon chord progression: 1, 5, 6, 3, 4,1,4,5.
the people like Cannon in D.

[Mark L]

I dunno OP, it’s a good question.

Hmmm, does the “New Nashville” sound include ballads in 3/4? Maybe that’s where it went?

Now you’ve got me humming, “Knew a man, Bojangles, and he’d dance for you...”

Perhaps a new thread on 3/4 time songs is in order?! Who’ll start one?

[Stevien]

Originally Posted by lowrider

Maybe it was the Beatles, they killed 3/4 right after they killed Paul!

"Baby's in Black" is one of their more popular 3/4 tunes. I guess Paul was still alive then .....
Steve

[maplebaby]

I’m afraid I may have killed it...I’m not proud of it.

[1neeto]

The quest for listenable music you can dance to is what killed most of the odd and compound time signatures in pop music. Back in the day 3/4 or 6/8 was quite common in pop music. Some of the greatest pop hits from the 70’s are in odd times signatures and nobody cares. Money which is Pink Floyd’s greatest hit is in 7/4. Heart’s Barracuda alternates from 4/4 to 7/4 for most of the song. Most of Rush’s hits have crazy time signatures, and that didn’t keep those songs from being huge hits. Music complexity died when music was considered a money making business rather than art expression.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by lowrider

?Maybe it was the Beatles, they killed 3/4 right after they killed Paul!

FWIW they had more than a few songs in 3/4 (or one of its variations - 6/8, 12/8) from day one - here's some that come to mind:

A Taste of Honey (verses)
To Know Her Is To Love Her (6/8 - from Live at the BBC)
This Boy (a 12/8 homage to doo-wop)
I'll Be Back (an unreleased take from Anthology)
Baby's In Black
Yes It Is (12/8)
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away (12/8)
Norwegian Wood (6/8)
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (verses)
She's Leaving Home
I Want You (She's So Heavy - chorus/end riff)
I Me Mine (verses)
Dig A Pony

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by lowrider

You guys who say that you do 20% 3/4 time songs, are any of them new songs?

Jason Isbell does some recent tunes you might want to check out. Off the top of my head I can think of “cover me up“ and “letting you go“ which feel like three-quarter time to me.