The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Start with “Schism” and “Lateralus”: both are well-known Tool examples of unusual meter, but neither is best understood as having just one time signature from beginning to end. “Schism” changes meter across sections; the familiar 9/8–8/8–7/8 pattern associated with “Lateralus” is a shorthand for a particular passage, especially its chorus.
Two Tool songs to start with
| Song | Passage described | Reported meter |
|---|---|---|
| “Schism” | Verse pattern in Rick Beato’s analysis | Alternating 5/8 and 7/8 |
| “Lateralus” | Pattern associated with the chorus | 9/8, 8/8, and 7/8 |
“Schism”
Rick Beato’s analysis of “Schism” describes the verse as alternating between 5/8 and 7/8, and discusses other counts elsewhere in the song. That means the useful answer to “What time signature is ‘Schism’ in?” is that its meter changes—not that one number applies throughout.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Lateralus | $11.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Lateralus by Tool | $64.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Aenima | Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 |
|
Undertow & Lateralus Compact Disk Set | $42.45 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Fear Inoculum | $34.69 | Buy on Amazon |
Beato also notes that some passages can be counted in more than one way. His breakdown is an analysis, not an official band score or a definitive ruling on every bar.
“Lateralus”
The title track is widely associated with a 9/8–8/8–7/8 sequence. Louder describes the song as moving between those meters, and Drumeo connects the same sequence to the track’s original working title, “987.” The sequence is a memorable way to recognize the chorus pattern, not a claim that every section of the song follows those three counts.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Why listeners may count a passage differently
Time signatures describe how beats are grouped, but a complex riff can make the grouping less obvious than a simple count suggests. In a Guitar World interview, Tool bassist Justin Chancellor explained: “And we’ll even overlap time signatures at points, or take an odd meter and straighten it out within a riff.” When parts overlap or a riff makes an unusual meter feel more regular, listeners and musicians may describe the same passage differently.
For a first listen, focus on the groupings rather than trying to settle every bar immediately. Hear whether the pulse seems to break into groups of two and three, and notice where the grouping changes. That approach makes the shifting feel easier to follow without treating a single count as the only possible interpretation.
Rank #2
How far these examples go
“Schism” and “Lateralus” are well-supported starting points, not a definitive list of every Tool song in unusual meter. The available evidence here does not establish a catalog-wide ranking or settle every passage with an authoritative score.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Fear
- Tool
- Inoculum
Rank #4
- Your favorite artist, Tool, on CD.
- Immerse yourself in the genre of Rock.
- Enjoy the music style of Alternative Rock on CD.
Rank #3
- Brand Name: SONY BMG MUSIC Mfg#: 791558448320
- Shipping Weight: 1.00 lbs
- Manufacturer: GHOSTLIGHT/SBME
- Genre: Original Cast Recordings
- All music products are properly licensed and guaranteed authentic.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
