Thread: Length of songs

Rock music has many lengths for songs. (Staying only with rock/hard rock/metal because it has the most variety in length) Short songs like

Motorhead - Ace of Spades 2:49
Sublime - What I got 2:51

average, medium song lengths (easily the most common)

Velvet Revolver - Slither 4:09
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All along the Watchtower 4:00

and long songs like

Band of Gypsys - Machine Gun (different lengths but most common) 12:36
Guns N' Roses - Coma 10:14

Short songs generally being 2-3 1/2 minutes and less, average songs about 4-6 1/2 minutes long. And long songs being about 7 minutes and longer.

What do you guys think are better? I think lengthy songs are better, usually because of the endurance and skill needed to play a song with such longevity. Not only must the musician memorize his or her notes, but the timing and not become tired or run out of stamina. For these reasons long songs are generally not played live often.

Long songs are also hard to write, as you must keep the song interesting through the whole song, so people don't lose interest. But writing lyrics, different riffs, bridges and solos can be very difficult.

Short songs can also be challenging as the musician must produce a very rich and interesting sound through the whole song, with not much room for error.

Average song lengths can also be challenging reproducing, and being consistent as the musician writes multiple songs for an album or EP.

And aestecially, what do you guys think are the best? Short and sweet, average, or long and challenging?

Ur forgetting Dream Theater "A Change of Seasons" is 23:30.

Originally Posted by SmokeScreen

Ur forgetting Dream Theater "A Change of Seasons" is 23:30.

And forgot

Innagaddavida - Iron Butterfly 17:23

I said short songs because when I listen to a really long song, I get bored halfway through.

Haha there ya go. I think there are prolly awesone tunes at all lengths of the spectrum. no matter the length. Thought i should add that since i forgot to on that last post

Great long songs: Goetia - Triptykon (11:00), Halo - Machine Head (9:04), People Will Read Again - Orbs (10:11)

Usually if it's much longer than 10 minutes, I'll lose interest.

Originally Posted by In Winter

I love longer songs with prog bands. But if they're up to like 15 to 20 minute songs and they're doing the same thing over and over again, than it gets old. I think rock, metal and some sub genres are the only genres that can pull off that length. Genres like Indie and Punk and Ska couldn't because they have a lot of energy in their songs already. Longer time would cause it to drag on and on.

Yeah, if any genre's meant for long songs, then it's definitely prog. Black metal is also a good genre for long songs. Those also happen to be two of my favorite genres.

Tool has a lot of really long songs like third eye....

U forget Freebird too 13 minute long song and still a great great great tune.

Average songs. I can't stand when bands make retardedly long songs. I can never sit through an album of all 8 minute long songs.

I like a mixture of all too, the best long classic rock song in my opinion: Telegraph Road by Dire Straits. Its duration is 14 minutes and 15 seconds. Awsome minutes may i add!