Rhythm Vocabulary

term

• duration

duration

• The value of a note

term

• Time signature

time signature

• A symbol that tells the performer how many beats will occur per measure, what note value represents the beat, and whether the meter is simple or compound.

term

• downbeat

downbeat

• The first beat of a measure. When played under the direction of a conductor, it is signified by the downward movement of the conductor’s hand.

term

• Upbeat

upbeat

• The last beat of any measure, usually a weak beat. It is called the “upbeat” because the conductor always directs it with an upward swing of the baton or hand. This anticipates the first beat of the next measure, the “downbeat”, always directed by a downward swing of the baton or hand.

term

• anacrusis

anacrusis

• An upbeat or pickup note(s); a term used for unstressed notes at the beginning of a phrase of music.

term

• offbeat

offbeat

• Any pulse that accentuates any part of the measure other than the first beat of the measure.

term

• syncopation

syncopation

• Deliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse of a composition by means of a temporary shifting of the accent to a weak beat or an off-beat.

term

• Assymetrical meter

assymetrical meter

• An odd number meter, a time signature with an odd number on the top.

term

• Mixed meter

mixed meter

• The use of several patterns or meters as music progresses (not simultaneously), mostly a technique used in 20th century compositions.

term

• rubato

rubato

• A practice common in Romantic compositions of taking part of the duration from one note and giving it to another. It involves the performer tastefully stretching, slowing, or hurrying the tempo as she/he sees fit, thus imparting flexibilty and emotion to the performance.

term

• augmentation

augmentation

• Statement of a melody in longer note values, often twice as slow as the original.

term

• diminution

diminution

• A Renaissance and Baroque ornamentation which consists of the restatement of a melody in which the note values are shortened, usually by half.

term

• polyrhythm

polyrhythm

• The use of several patterns or meters simultaneously, a technique used in 20th century compositions.

term

• beat

beat

• A regular and recurrent pulsation in the music.

term

• meter

meter

• The grouping of beats into regular patterns. The organization of rhythmic patterns in a composition in such a way that a regular, repeating pulse of beats may continue throughout the composition.

term

• syncopation

syncopation

• An accented note occurring where the listener would not normally expect it to be placed, usually on the off-beat.

term

• tempo

tempo

• The speed of the beat. Tempo indications are usually written in Italian.

term

• Time signature

time signature

• A symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition.

term

• Simple meter (simple beat)

simple meter

• Simple meter can be defined as a meter where each beat in a measure can be subdivided by two.

term

• Compound meter (compound beat)

compound meter

• Compound meter can be defined as a meter in which each beat is divisible by three rather than two.

term

• Simple meter time signatures

simple meter time signatures

These are some sample simple time signatures.Can you name some other simple meter time

signatures?

term

• Compound meter time signatures

compound meter time signatures

• TT

• These are sample compound time signatures. Can you name other compound meter time signatures?