Odd-time signatures have been part of heavy-metal drumming for quite some time now. It’s especially easy to find them in heavy-metal styles of music like progressive heavy-metal. The music of bands like Meshuggah, Opeth, Dream Theater and Tool are a great example of that. Due to its rather important role in heavy-metal drumming and music, Sean Lang wrote eight odd-time signature drum beats for this heavy-metal free drum lesson. The odd-time signature heavy-metal drum beats are in 7/4 and 5/4.
If you’re delving into the world of 5/4 odd-time signature for the first time, check the free drum lesson “How To Count 5/4 Odd-Time” before you give this one a go. If you’re new to 7/4 odd-time drum beats as well, keep in mind that 7/4 is 5/4 with two extra counts and you should be fine.
Once you’ve mastered these 5/4 and 7/4 heavy-metal drum beats, use 4/4 heavy-metal drum beats for coming up with some fresh ideas in 5/4 and 7/4. You just have to add two or three extra counts worth of pattern to any 4/4 drum beat you come across with or take counts from different drum beats to weave a new heavy-metal drum beat in 5/4 or 7/4. If you’d like to start working on this concept right away, use the heavy-metal drum beats from the free drum lessons “Single Pedal Heavy-Metal Drum Beats” and “Broken Double Bass Heavy-Metal Drum Beats.” This concept is applicable to heavy-metal drum fills as well.