Originally posted by aiwass
Basically, just practice counting (improvising beats) over various odd time signatures.

I know you probably know this aiwass, but it's much more than just counting. It's also feel, like which beats are the strong beats and which are the downbeats. Every wonder what the guy who waves the sticks at the orchestra or jazz band is doing. He's is showing the feel of the music. Take the time signatures 4/4, 2/2, 2/4. Whats the difference? It's the feel.

Key: ^ = strong beat (accent when counting): v = downbeat (say in low [volume]voice): - = mid beat (say in normal voice).

Now here's each time signatures feel:

4/4 = [^(1)] [v(2)] [-(3)] [v(4)]
2/2 = [^(1)] [-(2)]
2/4 = [^(1)] [v(2)]

So the difference between 2/2 and 2/4 is that the second beat in 2/2 is a mid beat, there is not downbeat in 2/2. In 2/4 the second beat is a downbeat and there is not mid beat.

Hopefully that makes sense and you can see the difference. It is pretty important to understand this and it will help out alot. Especially with drum patterns cause in a simple rock beat the snare hits on the downbeat.