Rhythm
Rhythm as a Concept
Webster: a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.
OR
Repetitive/Consistant Patterns In Time
This (like Harmony) is a term we take from real life
Think of how many repeated patterns in time we have in our life:
Sleep Schedule.....
Eating/Dietary......
Work Schedule......
The SEASONS are on a repeated Pattern in Time
Physical Movements:
Running - Consistant Pattern
Heartbeat.....
Walking....
Chewing....
Talking....
Not only are these present in our life, but we see the theme of
Consistency and Familiarity because we generally
like the Rhythm ( repetitive patterns in time) at a
Consistant/Constant Speed
Heartbeat...
Walking...
Chewing ...
Talking...
and FURTHER, if there is a change or inconsistency in speed with these physical movements,
that can represent acertain EMOTIONA
Characteristics of Rhythm: Duration/Note Length, Explicit Vs. Implicit
Rhythm is Delivered - I.E. how we hear it - in many different ways depending on Genre, Instrumentation, and Style etc.
For Example, it could be delivered by a Drum Set in a Rock Band, A Synthesized Beat in a Modern Hip hop Song, Pulsing strings in a String Quartet, or beatboxing in an A Capella Ensemble
No Matter what it is Provided by, Regardless of How fast it is, somehow we always Feel the Beat
So, Given that it is Always There, we want to examine it's Characteristics
Delivery:
What is it being Provided By
How is it being Provided
Explicit -------------------------VS-------------------------------Implicit
Very Obvious ---------------------VS-----------------------------Not Obvious
*********************Side-Note*******************
Notice How many of these concepts are based on a set of Two Extremes
Examples:
Consonant------------vs.--------------- Dissonant
Repetitive-------------vs.----------------Non-Repetitive
High----------------vs-----------------Low
OR
Repetitive/Consistant Patterns In Time
This (like Harmony) is a term we take from real life
Think of how many repeated patterns in time we have in our life:
Sleep Schedule.....
Eating/Dietary......
Work Schedule......
The SEASONS are on a repeated Pattern in Time
Physical Movements:
Running - Consistant Pattern
Heartbeat.....
Walking....
Chewing....
Talking....
Not only are these present in our life, but we see the theme of
Consistency and Familiarity because we generally
like the Rhythm ( repetitive patterns in time) at a
Consistant/Constant Speed
Heartbeat...
Walking...
Chewing ...
Talking...
and FURTHER, if there is a change or inconsistency in speed with these physical movements,
that can represent acertain EMOTIONA
Characteristics of Rhythm: Duration/Note Length, Explicit Vs. Implicit
Rhythm is Delivered - I.E. how we hear it - in many different ways depending on Genre, Instrumentation, and Style etc.
For Example, it could be delivered by a Drum Set in a Rock Band, A Synthesized Beat in a Modern Hip hop Song, Pulsing strings in a String Quartet, or beatboxing in an A Capella Ensemble
No Matter what it is Provided by, Regardless of How fast it is, somehow we always Feel the Beat
So, Given that it is Always There, we want to examine it's Characteristics
Delivery:
What is it being Provided By
How is it being Provided
Explicit -------------------------VS-------------------------------Implicit
Very Obvious ---------------------VS-----------------------------Not Obvious
*********************Side-Note*******************
Notice How many of these concepts are based on a set of Two Extremes
Examples:
Consonant------------vs.--------------- Dissonant
Repetitive-------------vs.----------------Non-Repetitive
High----------------vs-----------------Low
Video #1
Daphnis and Chloe
-Beginning is void of any real obvious rhythm
-Mostly Stagnant notes, or instruments playing long notes s
-this creates that spacey feeling, we are waiting for something to ground us
-Feel the CONTRAST when finally we get some more explicit rhythm at 0:40 in the strings
-They use the lack of rhythm to build to a climax
-by 2:30/3:00 we have a solid rhythm (i.e. can tap our foot)
Video #2
Now Contrast that with this "Staccato Hora"
-Immediately we have something to tap our foot to
-makes us want to move much more
-the rhythm is explicitly outlined in the music by shorter notes all over the orchestra
MORE NOTES = MORE INFORMATION
(In the case, Rhythmic Information)
Depending on the note lengths that the different instruments are playing, we can alter how the rhythm is implied!
Video #3
How does this apply to modern pop music:
Try to apply some of those concepts to this modern pop song
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
What sounds best
Video #4
What if we were to add drums to that track?
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
Optional:
What sounds best?
Daphnis and Chloe
-Beginning is void of any real obvious rhythm
-Mostly Stagnant notes, or instruments playing long notes s
-this creates that spacey feeling, we are waiting for something to ground us
-Feel the CONTRAST when finally we get some more explicit rhythm at 0:40 in the strings
-They use the lack of rhythm to build to a climax
-by 2:30/3:00 we have a solid rhythm (i.e. can tap our foot)
Video #2
Now Contrast that with this "Staccato Hora"
-Immediately we have something to tap our foot to
-makes us want to move much more
-the rhythm is explicitly outlined in the music by shorter notes all over the orchestra
MORE NOTES = MORE INFORMATION
(In the case, Rhythmic Information)
Depending on the note lengths that the different instruments are playing, we can alter how the rhythm is implied!
Video #3
How does this apply to modern pop music:
Try to apply some of those concepts to this modern pop song
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
What sounds best
Video #4
What if we were to add drums to that track?
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
Optional:
What sounds best?
Notating Rhythm
Key Terms: Tempo, Time Signature, Bar/Measure, Rest
Tempo is the Easiest to remember!
Tempo literally means Time in Italian
Tempo = Speed
We can put a numerical value on speed in music by measure the 'BPM' or 'Beats per Minute'
We can change this in GB
A Metronome is a music device used for keeping time/tempo
Tempo literally means Time in Italian
Tempo = Speed
We can put a numerical value on speed in music by measure the 'BPM' or 'Beats per Minute'
We can change this in GB
A Metronome is a music device used for keeping time/tempo
When it comes to notating Rhythm, it is all about division
Two Types of Division - We Divide the entire piece into Bars/Measure, and we Divide those measures into Beats.
* Note * : When using the word 'beat' in this sense, do not confuse it with the (wrong) general usage of 'beat' when referring to a drum groove or drum loop. That is not a beat! A beat is a single unit of measurement referring to a quarter note
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The first division is Measures
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Quarter Notes When we say a 'Beat' We are referring to a single quarter note:
Quarter Note = 1 beat |
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Half Notes: Notice how when we get to 'G' we hold it out a little LONGER:
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Eighth Note: Notice on the ' L M N O ' Part how the notes are SHORTER:
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Check out happy birthday below, what has changed?
We are still using only 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 notes......
We are still using only 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 notes......
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In this case the Time Signature has Changed!!
We still divide the piece into measures, but now the measure only get 3 beats each instead of 4 In a time Signature:
More or less in all styles, but especially in popular music, the two most common time signatures are 4/4 and 3/4 (as always there are exceptions) Pop Songs in 3/4 or Triple Metre |
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** Note **
The songs we used for examples are both very Rhythmically Simple!!
This is because they are meant to be easy to sing, learn, and memorize!!
This is not always the case!! Just like Melody , Harmony , Instrumentation ETC Rhythm is a device composers can use to make their music more interesting/Complex !
The songs we used for examples are both very Rhythmically Simple!!
This is because they are meant to be easy to sing, learn, and memorize!!
This is not always the case!! Just like Melody , Harmony , Instrumentation ETC Rhythm is a device composers can use to make their music more interesting/Complex !
Money - Pink Floyd
Time Signature : Top Number tells us how many beats in each measure, bottom tells us what note gets the beat
SO - We get 7 quarter notes in each measure
Time Signature : Top Number tells us how many beats in each measure, bottom tells us what note gets the beat
SO - We get 7 quarter notes in each measure
Mission Impossible Theme
5/4 - we get 5 quarter notes each bar
This piece is unique because it starts out in a 5 feel then switches to 4 - see if we can feel it....
5/4 - we get 5 quarter notes each bar
This piece is unique because it starts out in a 5 feel then switches to 4 - see if we can feel it....
Changes - 2pac feat. Talent
The Rhythm in rap is very unique, because the most emphasis is put on rhythm of the melody, rather than the notes in most other songs.
The Rhythm in rap is very unique, because the most emphasis is put on rhythm of the melody, rather than the notes in most other songs.
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The sixteenth note
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** Note **
This is little confusing, because the name/fraction of the note does not reflect how much of the beat each note gets, but rather how much of a 4/4 measure the note gets
I.E. In 4/4 time:
Two 1/2 notes in a measure
Four 1/4 notes in a measure
Eight 1/8 notes in a measure
Sixteen 1/16 notes in a measure
The last of the Very Common note value ( we can divide and infinite amount of times , 1/32 notes, 1/64 note etc) Is the Whole Note
This is little confusing, because the name/fraction of the note does not reflect how much of the beat each note gets, but rather how much of a 4/4 measure the note gets
I.E. In 4/4 time:
Two 1/2 notes in a measure
Four 1/4 notes in a measure
Eight 1/8 notes in a measure
Sixteen 1/16 notes in a measure
The last of the Very Common note value ( we can divide and infinite amount of times , 1/32 notes, 1/64 note etc) Is the Whole Note
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The Whole Note
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Just as important as the notes, are the spaces in between where the musician is NOT PLAYING!
These are called Rests
These are called Rests
