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Compound Meter
A compound meter is a time signature where each beat is divided into three parts. Common examples of compound meter include 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8. The common beat or pulse in compound meter is a dotted quarter note. Each dotted quarter note is divided into three eighth notes.
This example is in 9/8 meter.
 Listen to the 9/8 meter example
Odd Meter
An odd meter is a time signature that includes both simple and compound meter. This happens due to the odd number notes indicated by the top number of the meter. Let’s use 7/8 as an example. 7/8 can be divided into a few different ways
This example is in 7/8 meter.
Listen to the 7/8 meter example
Same Number of Notes, But a Different Meter?
With certain meters, it is simply more appropriate to label a time signature a certain way. The most common and obvious example of this would be a 6/8 meter vs. a 3/4 meter. Both have the same number of eighth notes, however, these two meters have very different sounds and a very different feel. Listen to the following example. The exact same thing will be performed, however, it will change from a 6/8 feel to a 3/4 feel.
Listen to the 6/8 vs. 3/4 meter example
Notice how the 6/8 meter has its eighth notes grouped as groups of 3 while the 3/4 has its eighth notes grouped as groups of 2.
Naming particular meter comes down to three things. One, how many notes are in each measure and two, the feel of the meter and three, what will make it easiest for the performer to understand, interpret, and visualize on paper.
 Page 1 - So What is Meter? - Simple Meter
Page 3 - Polyrhythm and Polymeter 
Understanding Meter and its Application
Jump Zone
Zack Uidl
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About Zack Uidl
Zack Uidl is a professional guitarist, studio/session musician, instructor, and composer in the Chicago-land area. He is one of the founding members, songwriters, and guitarists for the progressive metal band Thoughts Betrayed. He currently is an instructor both privately and at JC’s Guitars in Algonquin, Illinois. Zack has studied with the best guitarists in the industry including Tom Hess, Zvonimir Tot, Mike Walsh, Jody Fisher to name a few. He is a highly regarded clinician, author, and performer.
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