1. Area of Study 01: Rhythm and Metre
AQA GCSE Music

2. Areas of Study AoS 01: Rhythm and Metre AoS 02: Harmony and Tonality
A0S 03: Texture and Melody
AoS 04: Dynamics and Timbre
AoS 05: Structure and Form

3. This is all about beats, timing and sound patterns
Rhythm and Metre
This is all about beats, timing and sound patterns
Metre – This is a regular pattern of beats in every bar, indicated by a time signature
Rhythm – is the way different lengths of sound are combined to produce patterns in time.

5. Rhythm - Back to Basics = 4 beats = 1 beat Semibreve Crotchetor
Minim
Quaver
2 Quavers

7. Dotted Notes Adds half as much again to the length of the note
Add a Dot
= 1 ½ beats
= 1 beat
Dotted Crotchet
Crotchet
Add a Dot
= 2 beats
= 3 beats
Minim
Dotted Minim

8. Time Signatures This shows us how many beats there are in a bar
TOP NUMBER – tells you how many
beats there are in a bar
BOTTOM NUMBER – tells you how
long each beat is worth

9. Time Signatures – The bottom number2 3 4 6 8
A 2 at the bottom means
each beat is worth 1 minim
A 4 at the bottom means
each beat is worth 1 crotchet
An 8 at the bottom means
each beat is worth 1 quaver

10. Time Signatures cont.
4 x
Beats every bar
Main beat of the bar

11. Simple Time 2 4 3 4 4 Examples of Simple Time Signatures are;
2 types of Time Signature
Examples of Simple Time Signatures are; 2 4 3 4 4

12. Compound Time
2 types of Time Signature
Compound time signature have 6, 9 or 12 as their top number
6/8 Time signature has a feeling of 2 & 3
Music in these time signatures feel as though they have a main beat, which divide into 3.
Main Beat
Main Beat
Main Beat
Main Beat
Main Beat

13. Regular and Irregular
Regular Time Signatures are when the beats in a bar can be grouped e.g.
2/4, 6/8 (2 beats per bar) DUPLE
3/4, 9/8 (3 beats per bar) TRIPLE
4/4, 12/8 (4 beats per bar) QUADRUPLE
Irregular Time Signatures are when the beats can not be grouped as above
e.g 5/4 – 5 beats in a bar would have to be grouped as a 2 and 3
Track 02
Listen to the Example:
The Time Signature is 5/4. It sounds like there is one group of 3 then one group of 2 (irregular)

14. Listening Tests What is the time signature? (Q1)
The piece is in 4/4 time how many bars introduction is there? (Q16)
Which rhythm matches the bass drum rhythm? (Q27)
(ii)
(iii) (iv)

15. Syncopation
Rhythmic Device
A ‘stress’ on a normaly un-stressed note – gives an off beat feel.
Often in jazz and pop music.
Listen to the Example:
The guitar riff is syncopated

16. Syncopation 2
Syncopation can be added purely through the use of accents on the weaker beat of the bar.

17. Star Wars

18. Hemiola A Hemiola rhythm has a ‘three against two’ feel.
Rhythmic Device
A Hemiola rhythm has a ‘three against two’ feel.
For example, in this 3/4 rhythm there is a hemiola in the last two bars, giving the impression of three minim beats in the two bars of 3/4 time.
Hemiola

19. Listening Tests - 2 What is the time signature? (Q2)
Listen to Stevie Wonders version of Blowin’ in the wind’ and comment on rhythm & Metre. (Q24)

20. Augmentation
Rhythmic Device
This is where a melody or series of notes is repeated using notes of a longer duration.
For example, a melody with the rhythm of:
Original
Notes are doubled in length
Augmentation

21. Diminution This is the opposite to Augmentation.
Rhythmic Device
This is the opposite to Augmentation.
The rhythm of the melody is half the length
Original
Diminution

22. Polyrhythms When two or more rhythms are played at the same time.
Rhythmic Device
When two or more rhythms are played at the same time.
The rhythms may have accents in different places, but still feel as though they fit together.
Lots of African music is polyrhythmic
Look at the example on the next slide.

23. Bi-Rhythms
Rhythmic Device
Time signatures can be split up into different patterns of beats.
E.g. 3/4 can be divided into 3 groups of two quavers or 2 groups of three quavers 01 02

24. Listening Tests - 3 What is the time signature? (Q13) 12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4
12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4
Name the rhythmic device heard in the melody (Q28)
On which beats of the bar does the rhythm guitar play? (Q29)

25. Tempo Tempo simply refers to the speed of the music
It can measured in 'beats per minute’ (bpm)
E.g.
Tempo: = 120
The speed can also be indicated by an Italian word
120 crotchet beats every minute

26. Tempo – Italian words Presto = Very fast Vivace = Fast and lively
Allegro = Fast, quickly and bright
Moderato = Moderately
Andante = Walking pace
Adagio = Slow
Largo = Very Slow

27. Rubato
If this is written in the music, the performer is able to make changes to the tempo.
In response to the way the music makes them feel, the performer may want to slow down or speed up.
It indicates there is no strict tempo

28. Listening Tests - 4 What is the time signature? (Q11) 12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4
12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4
What is the note value of the tambourines rhythm?(Q29)
Crotchet minim quaver semiquaver
Which tempo marking best suits this melody? (Q9)
Allegro Poco Adagio Rhubato Vivace