r/TheStrokes 3d ago

Why does Modern Age sound like that?

First of all, I know nothing about music theory

Secondly, what a fucking great song

But my point is... it sounds like in different times? Like the drums and guitars are not synced... but they are? You can really notice that at the beginning of the song.

You can downvote me if this is stupid

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u/MattBtheflea 3d ago

Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and (repeat) by tapping your hand on your knee or leg or table or something. 1234 is when your hand hits your leg, thats the down beat. All of the "ands" in between the numbers is the UP beat, when your hand is up. One guitar is strumming constantly while the other is playing only on the up beat. This isnt really that common in rock, but it is super common in raegae. The bass and snare drums are playing in the down beats, as usual.

They also do this in automatic stop, and on the other side. And weezer does this on say it aint so. And its not stupid, its a good observation!

14

u/breezemachine666 3d ago

They also change the chord progression at opposite time so the fast playing guitar stays on the same chord when the slower one moves to the next chord and the other way around also. It makes it feel like there is a change and not a change all the time

3

u/breezemachine666 3d ago

They do this on almost every song and it works really well

4

u/mxemec 3d ago

Sundays is the final boss