Rhythmic Values

In this article we will discuss the ideas of rhythm and meter, and how they influence music of all genres.

What is Rhythm?

The other foundational building block of music is called rhythm. Rhythm is simply the pattern with which notes are played. Remember, music exists in the context/dimension of time, which means the length of patterns are relative to each other (e.g. short patterns are different from long patterns, which are both different from no pattern/silence). The patterns that are played can be combined in many different ways.Let's once again consider the chorus of Levitating by Dua Lipa. 

The melody of the chorus (which starts at 0:36) has a characteristic 'long-short' motif on the words 'moonlight,' 'you're my,' 'starlight,' and 'all night.' Since the pitch content is the same for each of these pairs of long/short notes, we can say that it's their rhythm that makes them a unique/interesting thing motif to listen to.

Analyze the rhythm of your favorite songs. Are there any rhythms that are repeated as motifs like this one?

Notating Rhythm

Note Lengths

When it comes to notating rhythm within a melody, we can change the rhythmic values to symbolize the length of a given note (or rest). Remember, rhythm is all relative to each other. Typically, the quarter note (crotchet in the UK) is used as a standard beat. The whole note (semibreve in the UK) takes up the length of 4 quarter notes (4 quarters make a whole, after all!). The half note (minim in the UK) takes up the length of 2 quarter notes. The eighth note (breve) takes up the space of half a quarter note (there are 8 in a whole note). The sixteenth note (semibreve) takes up the space of a quarter of a quarter note. Here's a handy chart that summarizes their length and notation:

Augmentation Dots

Augmentation dots are dots that can be placed to the right of a note that extend its duration by half of the current duration. For example, a dot placed on a half note (called a 'dotted half note') means that note will take up the length of three quarter notes (2 from the half note and 1 from the dot). Here's what that looks like:

Similarly, a dot on a whole note means it should be played for the duration of 6 quarter notes. A dot on a quarter note means it should be played for the duration of a quarter plus an eighth note. Similarly, a dot on an eighth note means it should be played for the duration of an eighth plus a sixteenth note, and so on.

Triplets

Triplets are used when we want to play three notes in space of a note that is typically broken down into a two-beat subdivision. For example, if we wanted to play three notes in the space of a quarter note (which is typically broken down into 2 eighth notes), we could play an eighth-note triplet. Here's what that looks like:

Notice that the eighth note triplet takes the same time as two eighth notes.

Another common triplet is the quarter-note triplet. How long do you think a quarter-note triplet will take in comparison to a half note? How about in comparison to a quarter note?The answer is that the quarter-note triplet takes the same amount of time as a half note or two quarter notes. Check it out:

Take a look at how they sound:

Ties

Ties are another way to extend the length of a note, similar to an augmentation dot. They function in an almost identical way. If we have a note that we want to extend, say a quarter note that we want to add an eighth note's length to, we could use an augmentation dot. Or, we could simply write an eighth note next to it and use a tie to attach the two and create a singular note. Thus, we say that the quarter note is tied to the eighth note. This is how it would look:

In practice, these are identical. We will discuss when to use each when we discuss rhythmic patterns in 1.8.

Stem Direction

The direction of the stem (which is the line coming out of the circle/head) is determined by where on the staff you place the note. If it is above the middle line, place the stem down. If it is below the middle line, place it up. And if it is on the middle line, you can choose based on the musical context! Here's another handy chart:

Identifying Rhythm in Music

Similarly to pitch, identifying rhythm is an important aspect to the course. Try determining the rhythm of the following excerpt. If you are already familiar with meter, do this knowing that the meter is . If not, then try to notate the rhythm knowing it starts with a . Ties and augmentation dots are both acceptable ways to increase a note's rhythmic value.The excerpt starts with a quarter note:

Here is the answer key:

Now try determining the rhythm of this excerpt, which starts with a dotted eighth note:

And the answer key:

Here's another more challenging one! If you are familiar with meter, look at the following information and attempt to transcribe the solo trombone part from the following piece. If you are unfamiliar with meter, simply transcribe the rhythm of the piece.

Note that this is meant to be a challenge. Do not get discouraged if you need multiple listens of the piece, or cannot get it at all without looking at the score video. We are super early in the lessons, and these skills will come more naturally as we progress.

If nothing else, watch the video and see the variety of rhythms that are possible. Note how each are notated, and count them in your head before hearing them to learn them.

What is Meter?

In music, there is often a hierarchical structure to how rhythmic patterns are organized. Often, you can hear or feel a repeated grouping of pulses (called beats) that, when put together, create this hierarchical structure called meter. The repeated grouping of beats is usually based on a note length that is given at the start of the piece. Most commonly, this is a quarter note.

Let's continue looking at Levitating. When the chorus first starts, you hear the bass do a funky glissando (which just means it smoothly slides up and then down), and then a splash cymbal on the following beat that signifies the start of the chorus. When you listen to this small excerpt (between 0:34 and 0:38), bob your head along with the music. (Yes, seriously. You'll get used to these activities by the second chapter!) Notice how the beat with the bass gliss. is relatively weaker than the beat that immediately follows it with the cymbal. This is the key to understanding meter: there are some beats that just feel stronger or weaker than others, and when combined into a regular pattern, a meter is formed.

For example, a common way of organizing beats into a meter is: strong, weak, strong, weak. Another is: strong, weak, weak.

We will go into more detail about rhythm in section 1.7. But for now, consider why the first beat in the pattern is almost always strong.