Obsessing 7 - Meanings of Seven

So what does seven actually mean? Well here in the mundane world, it comes after six and before eight, its just a symbol that represents an amount. Sometimes we know it as a lucky number, but in times past, it has important significance. It carries mystical meaning because it relates to the seven days of creation, seven chakras, the seven colors of the spectrum, seven planets, seven notes in the scale, seven days of the week, seven archangels, seven deadly sins, seven sages to name a few.

So what if four was replaced by seven in our current dominant musical meterical structure? What would happen? Would our consciousness start to change and vibrate with the higher realms? There are monks who chant the seven vowel sounds to alter their consciousness. What if we could do that with our own rhythms so that seven would be as natural as four is now? Could we exist simultaneously on the 7th dimension instead of being ruled by the fourth? Its just a rhythm... or is it?

If you feel like experimenting, here is a drone in 7 by Randy Graves.

7/8 Dijerido Drone

on the 7th plane,
BetZe13
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Didjeridu Teaches NINE

Just when you thought you've heard it all, here comes the didjeridu in NINE. Thats right, Randy Graves wants to show you how to rock it out in many odd meters, including 9/8 - on his "Your 'Somewhat ODD' Didjeridu Companion" instructional CD. Really its not all just for that big hollow stick, it can be translated on any instrument. Here's how he teaches NINE, (for educational purposes only).

Teaching 9/8

Fast 9/8 sample

Slow 9/8 sample

Its kind of hypnotizing. Hang out for a little while and see where it takes you.

in the ninth dimension,
BetZe13
OddTimeObsessed.com Tune in

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Randy Graves - Instructional - Review

Randy Graves – Instructional

Your ‘somewhat odd’ Didjeridu Companion

Randy Graves is a didjeridu player, composer and teacher. He has a series of instructional CDs for the didjeridu which range from meditative, mixed up to straight ahead. Now, you don’t have to be a didjeridu player/student to learn from this CD. He breaks down the compound meters first slow, fast then with just sticks. Before a couple of the exercises, he will play a sample from his recorded work so you can get a "real life" feel.

The tracks are as follows:

1 Introduction
1-5 12/8 (3+3+2+2+2)
6-9 10-8 (3+3+2+2)
10-13 7/8 (3+2+2)
14-17 5/8 (3+2)
18-21 5/8 (2+3)
22-25 7/8 (2+2+3)
26-29 9/8 (2+2+2+3)
30-33 11/8 (2+2+3+2+2)
34-37 13/8 (3+3+3+2+2)
38-41 22/8 (3+3+2+2 + 3+3+2+2+2)

These exercises can help you really feel these particular compound patterns of each meter. Once you get the feel of these patterns, then it is easier to experiment with in that comfort. Plus it is neat just hearing a droning instrument playing these patterns. Now I can drone out to 13 instead of 4, very important.

Anybody who teaches odd meters on the didjeridu is way cool in my book. His solo work and former band “Diginus” are worth checking out. He likes to use odd meters and from what I have heard the instrumentation is worth investigating and the writing is capturing.

So if you are looking for some more ways to practice your compound meters, here is a different approach that might take you in a new creative direction.

Check him out on Ginger Root Records

Keeping it ODD,
-Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed