Why does odd meter in music (e.g., time signatures in 9/8, 7/4, etc.) sound and feel so unnatural?
Music is much more acquired than you think. What sounds 'good' or 'normal' to you is the scales and the meters that you grew up listening to. The reason odd meter sounds weird to western ears is because…we don't hear it that often.
The Short Answer
Music is much more acquired than you think. What sounds 'good' or 'normal' to you is the scales and the meters that you grew up listening to. The reason odd meter sounds weird to western ears is because…we don't hear it that often. 3/4 is an odd meter that we hear a lot so it sounds completely normal. You'll find odd meters with more frequency in other cultures. 7/8 (septuple meter) is really common in Balkan countries. 5/8 (quintuple meter) is found all over the place: ancient greece, spain, aboriginal australians, native american populations, korean court music, hindustani songs, etc.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Meter, sounds, music
This explanation focuses on meter, sounds, music and spans 98 words across 7 sentences. At 44% above the average Psychology explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Music is much more acquired than you think.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 7 connected points.
How This Compares in Psychology
Ranked #118 of 500 Psychology questions by answer depth (top 24%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why odd meter in music (e.g., time signatures in 9/8, 7/4, etc.) sound and feel so unnatural?
Music is much more acquired than you think. What sounds 'good' or 'normal' to you is the scales and the meters that you grew up listening to. The reason odd meter sounds weird to western ears is because…we don't hear it that often. 3/4 is an odd…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Psychology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 98 words, ranked #118 of 500 Psychology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are meter, sounds, music.
What approach does this answer take to explain odd meter in music (e.g., time signatures in 9/8, 7/4, etc.)?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 98 words. It is categorized under Psychology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.