1. Rhythm National 3

2. Rhythm  Dynamics is the musical term for the varying volume levels of a piece. Most compositions have a dynamics marking written at the start of a piece. The word is often an Italian word.

3. Rhythm (national 3) Beat:The pronounced rhythm of music / one single stroke of a rhythmic accent On the beat: The main accents fall on the beat. Compare 'Off the beat'. March March Off the beat:The main accents are against the beat. Swing Band Swing Band

4. Rhythm (national 4)  Anacrusis : The notes which appear before the first strong beat of a musical phrase particularly at the start of a piece. It sounds as an upbeat. The Entertainer The EntertainerThe Entertainer  Syncopation : Strongly accented notes playing off or against the beat and occurs in all kinds of music. 'The Firm' 'The Firm''The Firm'

5. Rhythm (national 4)  Compound time: The beat is divided into groups of three pulses. See Simple time. The example is a Jig. Jig The beat is divided into groups of three pulses. See Simple time. The example is a Jig. JigJig Explanation and audio example of Compound Time Explanation and audio example of Compound Time

6. Rhythm (national 5)  Simple time: Music has two, three or four beats in each bar. Each beat is usually one crotchet. The first beat of each bar is accented. The beat is not dotted and can be subdivided into multiples of two (e.g. 2/4 = two crotchet beats in a bar and each beat can be divided into two quavers). Simple time

7. Rhythm (national 5)  Compound time groupings : The beat is a dotted note which divides into three, eg 6/8 = two dotted crotchet beats in a bar and each beat can be divided into three quavers. See Simple time. Simple timeSimple time

8. Rhythm (national 5)  Cross Rhythms:  1. Term used to describe the effect of two notes being played against three (eg in piano music it might be groups of two quavers in the right hand and groups of triplets in the left).

9. Rhythm (national 5)  Cross Rhythms:  2.The term is also used to describe the effect that occurs when the accents in a piece of music are different from those suggested by the time signature (e.g. the division of 4/4 time into 3+3+2 quavers). The excerpt is from Jazz, in 9/8 time and also has an irregular rhythm.

10. Rhythm (national 5)  Dotted Rhythms : A long note followed by a shorter one or a short note followed by a longer one as in a Scots snap often used in a Strathspey. GCSE Dotted Rhythm GCSE Dotted RhythmGCSE Dotted Rhythm

11. Rhythm (national 5)  Triplets: Three equal-value notes within one beat. The excerpt has triplets against duplets.