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Old 02-01-2021, 11:55 AM
DungBeatle DungBeatle is offline
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Default Leonard Cohen's, "Hallelujah"

Leonard Cohen's, "Hallelujah" is in 6/8 time. Would it be blasphemy to play it in 4/4?

~Bob
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Old 02-01-2021, 02:53 PM
Fatfinger McGee Fatfinger McGee is offline
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Originally Posted by DungBeatle View Post
Leonard Cohen's, "Hallelujah" is in 6/8 time. Would it be blasphemy to play it in 4/4?

~Bob
I used that exact song when teaching my niece to switch between 3/4 (6/8) and 4/4 time. Swing it a bit and you'll keep the emphasis on the same syllables more or less (I've HEARD there WAS, a SECret CHORD) and then swap out some of the minor 6ths for their root chord brethren, and throw in some twang and you've got yourself a nice country two-step! So yes, a little blasphemous, but fun.
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Old 02-01-2021, 03:04 PM
DungBeatle DungBeatle is offline
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Originally Posted by Fatfinger McGee View Post
I used that exact song when teaching my niece to switch between 3/4 (6/8) and 4/4 time. Swing it a bit and you'll keep the emphasis on the same syllables more or less (I've HEARD there WAS, a SECret CHORD) and then swap out some of the minor 6ths for their root chord brethren, and throw in some twang and you've got yourself a nice country two-step! So yes, a little blasphemous, but fun.
That's what I've been doing and I think it sounds really nice that way. I've always believed 6/8 time was more suited to Scottish and Irish dancing, tarantellas, etc.
~Bob
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Old 02-02-2021, 04:19 AM
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I've always believed 6/8 time was more suited to Scottish and Irish dancing, tarantellas, etc.
~Bob
When it's fast, for sure.
But pop music has always used slow 6/8 for moody ballads: I Can't Help Falling In Love With You, Nights in White Satin, When a Man Loves a Woman, I'd Rather Go Blind, etc. Hallelujah is in that tradition.

Not that I'm opposed to messing with original metres. It's fun, as you say. We need to maintain a healthy sense of humour these days....
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Old 02-02-2021, 08:54 AM
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Leonard Cohen's, "Hallelujah" is in 6/8 time. Would it be blasphemy to play it in 4/4?

~Bob
Hi DB

I sure wouldn't attempt that change with "Mission Impossible" or "The Blue Danube Waltz"…

But someone will.




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Old 02-02-2021, 09:30 AM
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Hi DB

I sure wouldn't attempt that change with "Mission Impossible" or "The Blue Danube Waltz"…

But someone will.

Someone did turn a Bach minuet (3/4) into this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmJ1AqtTuyo

Going the other way, someone else turned a 4/4 blues into 7/4 (a witty reference to the title):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuOSotxyc2U
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Old 02-02-2021, 10:08 AM
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So I'm going to assume that people won't turn into toads and cockroaches if I play it in 4/4. I appreciate the feedback on this!
~Bob
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Old 02-02-2021, 10:50 AM
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So I'm going to assume that people won't turn into toads and cockroaches if I play it in 4/4. I appreciate the feedback on this!
~Bob
Hi Bob

It really depends on who is in the audience.

If you play 4/4 and break each beat into triplets, then you are going to sound like you are in 6/8 or 12/8 (and I've heard arguments for both assignments to the song under discussion).








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Old 02-02-2021, 10:58 AM
DungBeatle DungBeatle is offline
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Hi Bob

It really depends on who is in the audience.

If you play 4/4 and break each beat into triplets, then you are going to sound like you are in 6/8 or 12/8 (and I've heard arguments for both assignments to the song under discussion).
No triplets, straight 4/4.
~Bob
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Old 02-02-2021, 11:25 AM
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No triplets, straight 4/4.
~Bob
Hi Bob
I've heard it performed that way.



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Old 02-02-2021, 11:28 AM
DungBeatle DungBeatle is offline
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Hi Bob
I've heard it performed that way.
I found a couple of YT videos of it being done that way too. I was only concerned that my audience might croak
~Bob
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Old 02-03-2021, 09:11 PM
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So I'm going to assume that people won't turn into toads and cockroaches if I play it in 4/4. I appreciate the feedback on this!
~Bob
If you are playing for yourself, anything goes.

If you are going to expose an audience to a 4/4 version of a well-known song that they are used to hearing in 6/8, I would be concerned about a mass negative reaction.

When you play stuff for an audience, you would normally be concerned about their expectations. At least I would...

- Glenn
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Old 02-04-2021, 08:34 AM
DungBeatle DungBeatle is offline
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If you are playing for yourself, anything goes.

If you are going to expose an audience to a 4/4 version of a well-known song that they are used to hearing in 6/8, I would be concerned about a mass negative reaction.

When you play stuff for an audience, you would normally be concerned about their expectations. At least I would...

- Glenn
Good point. I'll be careful.
=Bob=
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