Rhythm Review & Syncopation HS – Spring 2017
Definitions Beat/Pulse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mRn9chmRAY Beat/Pulse The steady pulse in a song; basic unit of rhythm. Rhythm The timing of the notes that are played in music. Meter/Time Signature: The pattern of strong and weak beats; the number of beats in each measure of a song.
Basic Rhythm Notes Multi-beat Notes 1-beat Notes Divided-beat Notes 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1-beat Notes 1 2 3 4 Divided-beat Notes 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Subdivided-beat Notes 1 E + A 2 E + A 3 E + A 4 E + A
Practice
Syncopation
Syncopation Example Intro: Verse 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG8Ect3Xn7w Intro: Verse 1:
Definitions Tie: A curved line that combines two notes into a longer one. Syncopation Temporary shift of notes to “off-beat” in a song. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Syncopation Practice
Ostinatos & Rhythmic Motives
Examples Ostinato Example: Holst: The Planets, “Mars, Bringer of War” Rhythmic Motive Example: Beethoven: 5th Symphony, Movement 1
Definitions Ostinato: A rhythm that repeats verbatim over and over in the background of a song. (another example, and one more) Rhythmic Motive A short rhythm that is frequently used in the melody of a song. It is modified over the course of the piece. (another example, and “Happy Birthday to You”)