Hmm I'd say it depends on the application! 4/4 signature could be used in a lot of genres, moods, and arrangements — same for 3/4 & 6/8. However, one could make the argument that 3/4 & 6/8 are creatively limiting seeing as many tunes in 3/4 & 6/8 are typically waltzes which, in their favor, can be expressive but could severely limit your stylistic choices. Me however I think all time signatures are neat :]
Comments
You have a point... +1 for you :)
To those who is going to state their opinions and ideas in the future thanks already. It will be a new knowledge for someone like me who is trying to self study music theory and music producing :)
(yea.. All alone)
Wait till you hear about other odd time signatures like 5/4 and 7/4. It’ll blow your mind.
I'll check soon
No, 4/4 is objectively the best time signature okay? 3/4? Uneven, unsatisfying. 6/8? 4/4 but scuffed. 4/4 = PURE. Make suer to add a I V VI IV progrssion and you got REAL music.
I'll try that chord progression soon TY<3
@MsFluent Np glad to help.
This is like saying wrenches are better and more constructive than hammers or that sage is better and more flavorful than rosemary. It's a really weird thing to become opinionated about and objectively not true. They're different. It's perfectly valid to feel that you yourself are more expressive using those time signatures or perhaps you happen to find more uses for them, but it's not particularly productive to draw lines in the sand like that. Whatever emotion can be expressed in 3/4 or 6/8 can also be expressed in 4/4...I promise you that.
Time signatures, key signatures, formal structures, orchestration techniques, sound design, instruments families, chord voicings...all these things are just tools. Nothing is objectively sad or dynamic or expressive. They're just abstract concepts that don't mean anything until a composer starts making decisions. Listen to tons of music, practice your craft, and learn how to push some of these concepts beyond what may seem immediately obvious.
This came from an Expert so I'll keep this is mind <3
It very well could be the case, but I've never been able to make a song in 3/4 or 6/8 yet lol, I'm just not good enough yet
I find a well placed measure or whole section of a particular time signature gives a lot of weight to the other ones around it, regardless of whether it's 4/4, 6/8, or anything like that. There's a song called Scatterbrain by Jeff Beck, of which the main riff is in 9/8, creating a slightly unstable feeling. After a few cycles of this riff it kicks into normal 4/4 for a solo section which instantly grooves a lot harder than if it was just the 4/4 section itself. I guess in essence the time signature itself doesn't really matter, but the context in which it's placed does
I should check that :)
5 count supremacy. 5 pulses every measure is better than 4 but not as pretentious as 6, imo. Change my mind.
Time is relative, expression is subjective and your assertion is ontologically flawed.
Couplex
3/4 is found mainly in orchestral music, BUT. Many musicians use this time signature when writing "fast" music because it is very good at helping you focus on the speed of the music. There are many examples in game music.
MsFluent
Oh I see...