by Whopbamboom » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:38 pm
I've done some similar rhythms in 7/8 time... basically, almost any patterns done in 4/4 can be chopped off a 1/2 beat early. That is, you start the new "1" downbeat RIGHT ON the "and" of "4" (the eighth note that is between 4 and 1). In many patterns, you will not feel it as a 3+4 or a 4+3. It'll simply feel like a shortened 4/4 or like a changing meter. Each pattern will make for a fairly unique sound when strung out over several measures. And don't forget that you can change patterns between the different measures to keep it mixed up yet fitting within 7/8 time.
I have a feeling that you can do 7/4 time the same way... you can look at it like a slow 7/8. Or, you can do it like a measure of 4/4 and then a measure of 3/4 (or vis-versa), where you have shortened a measure by one beat..... but then you'd be back to a 4+3 or a 3+4 feel that way.
When looped, shortened or extended measures can make for interesting rhythms. I do this stuff frequently when drumming by myself. You can get into 15/16 time, 17/16 time, pretty much anything. And it can get interesting.