Editing Math rock (section)

== Characteristics ==

Math rock is typified by its rhythmic complexity, seen as ''[[mathematical]]'' in character by listeners and critics. While most rock music uses a {{Music|time|4|4}} [[Meter (music)|meter]] (however [[Accent (music)|accented]] or [[Syncopation|syncopated]]), math rock makes use of more non-standard, frequently changing [[time signature]]s such as {{Music|time|5|4}}, {{Music|time|7|8}}, {{Music|time|11|8}}, or {{Music|time|13|8}}.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Progressive rock reconsidered|date=2002|publisher=Routledge|others=Holm-Hudson, Kevin.|isbn=0-8153-3714-0|location=New York|oclc=45890399}}</ref>

As in traditional rock, the sound is most often dominated by guitars and drums. However, drums play a greater role in math rock in providing driving, complex rhythms. Math rock guitarists make use of [[tapping]] techniques and [[Live looping|loop pedals]] to build on these rhythms, as illustrated by songs like those of math rock supergroup [[Battles (band)|Battles]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Battles: Math rock made with room for improvisation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/battles-math-rock-made-with-room-for-improvisation/2015/10/15/bafefbd6-6d29-11e5-aa5b-f78a98956699_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=December 5, 2024 |quote=Battles is rooted in the irregular time signatures and guitar tapping of math rock, but the experimental trio is constantly pushing sonic boundaries.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Colin |date=2011-06-07 |title=A math-rock supergroup loses its voice, and gets some soul |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2011/06/a-math-rock-supergroup-loses-its-voice-and-gets-some-soul-068341 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref>

[[Lyrics]] are generally not the focus of math rock; the voice is treated as just another instrument in the mix. Often, vocals are not [[overdub]]bed, and are positioned less prominently, as in the recording style of [[Steve Albini]].{{cn|date=December 2024}} Many of math rock's best-known groups are entirely [[instrumental rock|instrumental]] such as [[Don Caballero]] or [[Hella (band)|Hella]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hella Biography by Bradley Torreano |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hella-mn0000672835#biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Don Caballero Biography by Steve Huey |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-caballero-mn0000796811#biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref>

A significant intersection exists between math rock and [[emo]], exemplified by bands such as [[Tiny Moving Parts]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2014 |title=A Tiny Interview with Tiny Moving Parts |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-tiny-interview-with-tiny-moving-parts/ |website=VICE}}</ref> or [[American Football (band)|American Football]], whose sound has been described as "twinkly, mathy rock, a sound that became one of the defining traits of the emo scene throughout the 2000s".<ref>{{cite web|title = Never Meant: The Complete Oral History of American Football |url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/never-meant-the-complete-oral-history-of-american-football/|website = NOISEY| date=February 2, 2016 |access-date = February 2, 2016}}</ref>