RHYTHM

TERMINOLOGY: BEAT, TEMPO AND RHYTHM

Beat (pulse)- regularly recurring pulses within a given period of time.

Tempo- indicates the speed at which these pulses occur.

Rhythm- Temporal pattern played against a background of beat units, at times corresponding to,
and at times conflicting with, the beat.

SIMPLE AND COMPOUND TIME

Simple and Compound are terms that indicate how the beat unit divides (see Ex. 2.1)

1. Simple Time- If the beat unit is undotted note value, the unit will divide equally into two
parts and multiples of two.
2. Compound Time- If the beat unit is dotted note value, the unit will divide equally into
three parts and multiples of three.

Example 2.1

BEAT DIVISIONS

-The divisions and subdivisions of a beat may be regular (or normal), irregular, or borrowed.

-Take note that undotted note (Simple) divides and subdivides into patterns 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and so
forth. A dotted note (Compound) divides and subdivides into patterns of 3, 6, 12, 24, and so on.

Example 2.2 illustrates how REGULAR divisions and subdivisions would occur in simple and
compound time (if the quarter note and dotted quarter note were to serve as the beat unit).
EXAMPLE 2.2

If the number of notes is not a regular division or subdivisions, the pattern is called
IRREGULAR. (Ex. 2.6)

EXAMPLE 2.6
An irregular division is labeled BORROWED when it appears as a division of a simple beat unit
into three equal parts or as a divisions of a compound beat unit into two equal parts. Irregular
divisions of two or three equal parts (duplets and triplets) are termed borrowed.

For determining the correct note values for irregular divisions and subdivisions, the guidelines
listed below should be followed.

1. Keep in mind the note values of the regular divisions and subdivisions
2. To determine the note values to be used, employ the note values of the regular division or
subdivision that occur prior to the number of notes in the irregular pattern (Ex. 2.6).
When considering note values for duplets, since there is no previously used division
value, the assigned note value should be the same as it appears in the division.
3. For an irregular pattern, the number of notes in the pattern must be written above or
below the unit, as a Arabic numeral (usually as stem or beam side).
4. If the group of notes in the irregular pattern are not beamed together (quarter notes or
longer note values), they must be grouped within a bracket. (Ex.2.7)

EXAMPLE 2.7

Example 2.8 illustrates irregular rhythmic patterns that require the use a bracket.

EXAMPLE 2.8

Regular divisions and subdivisions do not require the use of either the bracket or number.

Example 2.9 illustrates the regular, borrowed, and irregular subdivisions of a half note and a
dotted quarter note.
EXAMPLE 2.9

METRONOME TEMPO INDICATIONS

The tempo of a composition is usually indicated by a metronome marking at the beginning of a

piece.
COMMONLY USED TEMPO MARKINGS