How To Play Odd Meter Jazz Drums

Click to watch.

Learn how to play odd meter Jazz drums with grooves in 3/4 and 5/4 including that smooth 5/4 feel from Dave Brubeck’s Take Five!

Odd Meter Jazz Drumming Course

Write your awesome label here.
Most of us are totally comfortable swinging in good old 4/4 time. But when it comes to odd meters, things can feel a little tricky. This course shows you how to play odd meter Jazz drums by getting you grooving naturally in both 3/4 and 5/4.

You’ll learn:
  • How to read and understand these time signatures
  • Solid grooves
  • Flowing drum fills
  • How to improve your timing
  • Advanced coordination
  • Musical feel
  • How to lock into odd meters without overthinking


By the end, you’ll have the tools to groove, fill, and solo in 3/4 and 5/4 with ease, making your drumming more versatile and expressive.
Course Overview
Jazz is packed with odd meter drum beats, way more than most styles. That’s why it’s super important to get comfortable with how to play odd meter Jazz drums, especially in 3/4 and 5/4. These two time signatures show up all the time in Jazz, and once you’ve got ’em down, they open up a whole new world of grooves and creativity.

In this course, I’ll walk you through how to play solid Jazz Swing grooves and fills in both 3/4 and 5/4. It’s all about expanding your groove toolbox so you can bring more flavor and flexibility into your Jazz drumming.

  • Drum Lessons Video: 1.5 hours
  • Drum Lessons: 8
  • Instructor Playing Examples: 2
  • 3-Page PDF Download
  • Drum Practice Tracks: 2
  • Drum Lab Monthly Drum Class
  • Lessons In 9 Languages:
    English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 한국어, 日本語

How To Play Odd Meter Jazz Drums Without Overthinking It

Ever feel totally solid in 4/4, but then someone calls a tune in 3/4 or 5/4 and your whole groove just falls apart? That’s exactly why I made this course, to help you feel at home in odd meter Jazz drumming without stressing out or losing the pocket.

This course will show you exactly how to play odd meter Jazz drums, especially in 3/4 and 5/4 time signatures, so you can groove naturally and solo with more freedom. If you’re jamming with friends, gigging, or just want to sound more musical and creative, this course gives you the tools to do it.

What You’ll Learn In This Course

You’ll learn 12 swing grooves, 6 in 3/4 jazz drum beats and 6 in 5/4 jazz drum beats. Plus 4 flowing drum fill patterns you can use right away. Everything is taught step-by-step, so you’re never left guessing what to do next.

We’ll cover:
 • How to read and understand odd time signatures like 3/4 and 5/4
 • Jazz drums 3/4 time groove construction
 • Locking into 5/4 drum grooves with ease
 • Odd meter drum fills that feel smooth and natural
 • Tips to improve your timing and coordination
 • How to make your playing musical, not mechanical
 • Playing along with real drumless Jazz tracks

You’ll come out of this course knowing exactly how to drum in 3/4 and 5/4, and more importantly, how to make those meters swing.

Why 3/4 and 5/4 Matter In Jazz Drumming

Jazz isn’t just about 4/4. Some of the most iconic tunes like Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” live in odd meter drum beats. And once you get into the flow of odd meter swing grooves, it actually opens up a ton of creative space.

3/4 Swing is buttery smooth and feels like floating. Honestly, I love it even more than 4/4. It lines up beautifully with the triplet feel of Jazz.

5/4 gives you that slightly off-kilter but cool feel. Once you internalize the pulse, it’s not hard, it’s just different. And way fun. I’ll walk you through every step.

Learn At Your Own Pace, Groove For Life

You can binge the whole course in one sitting or take your time. Either way, you’ll walk away knowing how to play 3/4 Jazz drum beats and odd meter Swing grooves in 5/4 and actually enjoy playing them.

Once you’ve got the feel, these meters become second nature. And your drumming, way more expressive and fun.

Let’s Groove In Odd Time

So if you’ve been avoiding anything that’s not in 4/4, it’s time to change that. This course will get you swinging in 3/4 and grooving in 5/4 without overthinking it.

You’ll come out the other side with:

 • Confidence in odd meter Jazz drumming
 • Go-to fills and grooves in 3/4 and 5/4
 • A deeper pocket and better timing
 • A new level of musical expression

Ready to break out of 4/4 and explore what’s possible?

Let’s do this. Enroll now and start playing odd meter Jazz drums like it’s second nature.

PREVIEW THE COURSE

Here's the lesson on how to play odd meter Jazz drums with 3/4 grooves and music.  Enroll in the course to master playing in 3/4 and 5/4 meters. 

There is a PDF download for this and other lessons in the course when you enroll. 

Click on the "CC" in the video screen to select your language.
Write your awesome label here.

Jazz Drums Total Lessons Pack

From clueless to gig-ready! Start from scratch and groove your way up to advanced Jazz drumming. Grab all my courses to go from your first beat to stealing the show!

Includes the Odd Meter Drumming course!
Write your awesome label here.

Lessons on How To Play Odd Meter Jazz Drums

Play in both 3/4 and 5/4 with more confidence!
  1. INTRO & HOW TO READ 3/4 & 5/4 - 05:11
  2. PLAYING IN 3/4 PART 1 - 19:15
  3. PLAYING IN 3/4 PART 2 - 08:17
  4. PLAYING IN 5/4 - 10:59
  5. 3/4 DRUM FILL PART 1 - 14:15
  6. 3/4 DRUM FILL PART 2 - 12:04
  7. 5/4 DRUM FILL - 12:34
  8. CONCLUSION - 00:29
  9. 3/4 PERFORMANCE EXAMPLE - 01:43
  10. 5/4 PERFORMANCE EXAMPLE - 01:50

The Odd Meter Jazz Drumming Course

FOCUSED

This course saves you time and money by breaking down how to play odd meter Jazz drums in 3/4 and 5/4 meters. 

By the end of these online drum lessons, you'll be able to play Jazz Swing grooves and drum fills in 3/4 and 5/4.
  
  • 1.5 hours of online drum lessons
  • 8 drum lesson videos
  • 3-page PDF
  • 2 drum practice tracks
  • 2 video examples from real gigs
  • Drum Lab Monthly Drum Class

AFFORDABLE

One-Time Payment. Lifetime Access to your course. Pay once, drum forever!

Pocket-friendly subscription plans also available through Groove Pass. 

PAINLESS

Learn with a relaxed, step-by-step method at your own pace.

You can also track your progress and see how much you have accomplished. Example below is from the Brushes Mastery Course.

Need a little more help with how to play odd meter Jazz drums?

Send me a direct message in the School and ask your questions in my monthly Drum Lab class. Just some of the perks for joining Jazz Drum School! 

Von Baron

Jazz drummer, educator, composer

About YOUR TEACHER

Performing regularly on stage and in the recording studio for 35+ years, Von Baron is one of the busiest drummers in Japan. 

Playing with Stanley Jordan, Benny Golson, Eddie Henderson, Geoff Keezer and many others gave Von the opportunity to hone his Jazz drumming skills. 

It's with this real world experience, Von created this course to give you a solid foundation for your Jazz drumming.
Copyright © 2025  
Kobe, Japan

FAQ's & HELP

Legal

Social

Created with