Bars etc-Rules

Might sound daft as new to this,but am i right in saying that 4 beats make a bar,for example,kick,hat,kick,snare or whatever, do you always have to use 4 beats to a bar,or can u do it other ways without sticking to simple formula,

never heard of time signature?

check this thread out!
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=111358

yes. 4 beats equal 1 bar. and you can use shorter bars in certain parts of your song but for the most part 4 beats to a bar is standard for the basic structure of your song. anything else would not give any sort of uniformity to your song. that "simple" formula is what makes it music and not just random noise.

actually 4 beats only equal a bar when you have 4/4 as your time signature. when you are using 3/4 as in like waltz music.. no not waltz disney.. waltz dancing music.. three beats equal a bar. there are some with 2/4 and 1/4 etc. all depends on the time signature you use. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 is the convention method most people can relate to but there is also 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3. get it? you may have to expand your ear to some classical or baroque music in order to get what i mean. I can only think of one rapper who rapped on a 3/4 beat.. q tip. i can't recall the song, but it was quite intriguing the way he went abou it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwAju4NBdZY

Theres a Zappa track with a 24/1 time sig.