Tag Info

Hopefully these examples of 5/4:4/4 polymeter and 5:4 polyrhythm clears it up. Polymeter Here is a simple example of 5/4 over 4/4 polymeter notated in 4/4 time. Notice how voice A's meter is five beats (the accents illustrates the starts), while voice B's meter is four beats, and they are sort of modulating over each other. After 20 beats their accented ...

Polyrhythms are multi-rhythms as in a bar of ,say, 8 quavers played against 12 quaver triplets (in the same bar).They don't necessarily fit properly,but they are playable.So, the bar length stays the same, but the divisions in it are varied simultaneously against another rhythm pattern in the same bar. ...

Polyrhythm and polymeter demonstrate the outer limits of written music. In truth if I play a seven note repeating phrase over a four note phrase at the same speed they will synchronise every 28 notes. I can notate this within one bar or I can fit one phrase in a bar and have the other run over the bar lines. It should sound the same either way. Music ...

Polymeter : different voices/instruments that play different meters that desynchronize themselfs (a 9/8 piano part against a 4/4 drum part, or 7/8 on a 3/4 Polyrythms : different subdivisions that fit in the same bar. The classic Christmas tune "Carol of the bells" is an example of 2 against 3. Traditional cuban rumba, and lots of west African drum rhythms ...