I've had a discussion with my friend but haven't given the topic much thought in a while until now.
Anyways, I've wondered what is it about constantly rhythmic 4/4 music that I/we love so much, because I feel like my life is more balanced and in order when I listen to more 4/4 edm. I wondered if it has something to do with keeping our lives in cycles, such as we do with days, years etc... I know I didn't explain that very well but work with me here.
Basically I'm wondering how the 4/4 rhythm of edm might effect us on a deeper level, and why we are able to become obsessed with it, and dance to it for hours. I know it makes us feel good, but I want to go further and think about why this type of music is able to do this to us. What is going on in our mind that are so responsive to it?
I mean, you don't hear of people dancing to any other kind of music all night long.
I know what you're talking about, I quickly get bored of music thats not 4/4.
Feb-28-2008 01:16
MrJiveBoJingles
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: U.S.
quote:
Originally posted by Darkarbiter
Isn't little african tribe music in 4/4?
It uses plenty of 4/4, but when it does there are typically instruments playing in other time signatures on top of the 4/4. It's called "polyrhythm."
Feb-28-2008 01:34
nefardec
Tranceaddict in tranning
Registered: Oct 2004
Location:
this brings up other interesting points that you haven't really mentioned,
but as for what you posted:
i don't think there is anything particularly special about 4/4 except that you're just really used to it and feel the phrases more.
Feb-28-2008 01:39
julien2
HTML is not allowed
Registered: Jun 2005
Location: Montreal
A constant, monotonous, repetitive beat (such as 4 to the floor EDM, ie house, trance techno) will always create a state of trance (here the real meaning of the word, not the music)
Primitive (not used in a negative way) societies have all used those repetitive enchanting beats to communicate with spirits and have incorporated them in their cults and rites.
Falling in a state of trance with repetitive rythms is as old as fire.
Nothing exceptional with EDM
Feb-28-2008 02:36
Darkarbiter
Psysnob
Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Melbourne
A state of trance is only achieveable between certain BPMs though.
Originally posted by nefardec
i don't think there is anything particularly special about 4/4 except that you're just really used to it and feel the phrases more.
That's what I was thinking. 4/4 just happends to be easy to digest, and so much pop music uses it that it's been hardwired into our brains, so anything else feels unnatural. Back when I mostly listened to EDM I felt the same way, and I thought 4/4 had something special about it. Try getting into other genres, and you'll start feeling the same about other time signatures.
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