![]() ![]() Think about this: when’s the last time you heard a straightforward 4/4 rhythm played on African drums? ![]() That rhythm you hear right at the beginning of the song is a polyrhythm in itself, and probably sounds quite familiar, as a lot of Afro-cuban music makes use of a polyrhythmic djembe beat to form the backbone of the song. Once you tune your ears to polyrhythms, you’ll notice that it’s possible to count the meter differently for different instruments – the multiple percussion instruments overlap and interweave beautifully to form a complex, cohesive rhythm. Take a listen to Mongo Santamaria’s rendition of “Afro Blue”: When rhythms are layered one atop the other, the pattern of emphasis shifts in different ways, giving polyrhythms a distinct feel – these rhythms have more “fill” and are often more complex than those found in traditional Western music. In Western music, the typical rhythm has a marked emphasis on beat one, and every other beat in the bar is considered a secondary beat. The rhythmic tension and release found in polyrhythms makes them danceable, aurally interesting, and more expressive than your typical four-on-the-floor rhythm. More than one type of rhythm is played at the same time, with each rhythm containing a different beat subdivision. Simply put, a polyrhythm consists of layers of simpler rhythms. And best of all, you’ll have gotten a taste of the endless possibilities that polyrhythms can give music – and will be equipped with ideas of how you can apply this new knowledge to your own songwriting. You’ll also be able to clap out the two most common polyrhythms, and recognize them in music. In this guide to polyrhythms for beginners, we’ll introduce you to the concept of polyrhythms, provide you with examples of this rhythmic complexity, and share some techniques for counting and feeling polyrhythms.īy the end of this article, you’ll understand what makes a polyrhythm, how to count them, and how you can practice them on your instrument. So how do we play, write, and internalize these rhythms? This music often has rhythms that are much more elaborate, incorporating polyrhythms and syncopation for more complex (and in some cases, very danceable!) drum beats. Things get more interesting as you look at genres such as jazz and metal, and especially at music from Africa and India. This is especially prevalent in genres such as blues, rock, pop, folk, and country.Īll these styles are typically built on common rhythms that are made up of quarter notes, 8th notes, 16th notes, and so on. In Western music, you’ll most often see music written in pretty straightforward time signatures, such as 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, or 2/2. ![]()
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