Music Theory Classroom: Fundamentals of Rhythm 1

Before we start learning how rhythmic notation works, we need to make sure we're on the same page when we use various terms relating to rhythm. We will also listen to some music to try to determine its metrical structure.

Now that we've defined some of our terms, let's start looking at the time signatures and note durations used in simple meter.

The assignment numbers match the lesson numbers, but there is not an assignment for every lesson. You didn't miss assignment 1, because there wasn't one!

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

Sometimes a composer needs to write a very long note, but it won't fit within a measure. This is where ties come in. We also start learning how to follow along with musical scores.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

Dotted notes add to our repertoire of note durations, and provide a note that fills a whole measure of triple meter.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

This lesson may be inserted any time you need a break from the regular material. You should have completed at least Lesson 4 in both Rhythm and Melody and Harmony before you take this lesson.

There are notes shorter than one beat long; today we learn the first of those.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

Syncopation is a common musical device that can lead to some tricky notation.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

We take a break from the nitty-gritty of specific rhythms and look at the bigger picture of how slowly or quickly the music flows through time.

There is no assignment for this lesson. Instead you will take a short quiz on it.

What about notes that are only half as long as eighth notes?

We will review part of today's assignment at the beginning of the next lecture.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

We are finished with simple meter, and we again look at the bigger picture of reading music. This time, we're talking about the road map.

There is no assignment for this lesson, but the material appears on the midterm exam, which is up next.

Simple meter is when the beat is naturally divided into 2 equal parts. What if it's naturally divided into 3?

Compound meter uses time signatures in a slightly different way.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

Even in compound meter, eighth notes are still eighth notes, meaning that they can divide into two sixteenth notes.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.

Compound meters are not always duple.

Print out this sheet of rhythm examples and practice performing them. When you feel ready, try performing them along with the video.