BA (Hons) Music Industry Practice

chapter

2
Content
Rhythm Studies Part 1

As part of the rhythm section it is crucial that we, as bass players, have a solid understanding of rhythm and its
construction. In time, this will allow us to construct and command a much wider palette of rhythmic phrasing
leading a more creative output of ideas.

The Rhythmic Pyramids

The rhythmic pyramid shows the visual representation of rhythmic values and subdivisions. There are two
pyramids, one for played rhythms and one for non-played rests.

Rhythmic Pyramid

Whole Note / Semibreve

Half Notes / Minims

Quarter Notes / Crotchets

Eighth Notes / Quavers

Eighth Note Triplets / Quaver Triplets

3 3 3 3
Sixteenth Notes / Semi Quavers

Thirtysecond Notes / Demisemi Quavers

86 Instrumental Studies Chapter 2

Rhythmic Rest Pyramid

Whole Note / Semibreve Rest

Half Notes / Minim Rests

Quarter Notes / Crotchet Rests

Eighth Notes / Quaver Rests

Sixteenth Notes / Semi Quaver Rests

Rhythm reading
Thirtysecond Notes / Demisemi Quaver Rests
Using a metronome, clap, tap or play these rhythms paying attention to the values and note lengths. Try to
keep your foot tapping along with the metronome pulse. Be sure to start slowly before building up speed.

?4
4 | | Û Û Û Û | Û Û Û | Û
1 (2) 3 (4) 1 2 3 4 1 (2) 3 4 etc

?Û Û Û Û Û Œ Û Œ Û Û Œ Û
5

| |

?Û Û Œ Û Û Ó Û Ó Û Û Û Œ Û Œ
9

?Œ Û Û Œ Œ Û Û Œ Œ Û Û Û
13

| |

?Œ Û Û Œ Ó Œ Û Œ Û Œ Û Œ Œ Û Û
17

?Û Û Û Û
Chapter 2 Instrumental Studies 87
Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û
21