7/8 has seven eighth notes in each bar, most often grouped 2+2+3 or 3+2+2. It is felt as three uneven beats, two short and one long, and drives forward with a slight hurry. The metronome above plays 7/8 with an accent at the start of each group. Count it as: 1 2 1 2 1 2 3.
What does 7/8 mean?
The top number, 7, says how many notes fill one bar; the bottom number, 8, says which note value they are (eighth notes). 7/8 is an irregular (asymmetric) meter: its beats are grouped unevenly, here 2+2+3, so some beats are longer than others.
How to count 7/8
Count 7/8 as “1 2 1 2 1 2 3”. The grouping is 2+2+3, so you feel 3 beats per bar, and the first note of each group carries the accent.
Accent pattern for 7/8
Group
Length
Accent
Group 1
2 eighth notes
Strong (downbeat)
Group 2
2 eighth notes
Medium
Group 3
3 eighth notes
Medium
Setting a metronome for 7/8
Set the metronome to 7/8 and let it click on the eighth note. Count the groups (short, short, long) rather than seven equal eighths. Accent the start of each group, then try the other order so you can hear which grouping a piece uses.
How long is a bar of 7/8?
With the click on the eighth note, one bar of 7/8 lasts 3.50 seconds at 120 BPM, 2.33 seconds at 180 BPM, 1.75 seconds at 240 BPM.
Bar length in 7/8 (click on the eighth note)
Tempo
One bar
Eight bars
120 BPM
3.50 s
28.0 s
180 BPM
2.33 s
18.7 s
240 BPM
1.75 s
14.0 s
Drum grooves in 7/8
These grooves from the SuperTime library are written in 7/8: 7/8 Rock (3+2+2), 7/8 Rock (2+2+3), Rachenitsa 7/8 (2+2+3). Each page shows the pattern hit by hit with its count, and plays it on the metronome.