Slave To The Rhythm

The pulse or beat in music is at fixed points in time, like a regular heartbeat or a ticking clock. If you clap along to the seconds of a clock you’ll be establishing sixty fixed points over time, or to put this in more musical terms, sixty beats per minute (60bpm). Rhythm then, is the word we use to describe everything that happens between the fixed points, different combinations of long and short sounds and spaces.

Here are three common rhythmic values for you to explore. At the top is the rhythmic value that is longest in length: the whole note, which is worth four beats. On the next row is the rhythmic value that is half the length: the half note, worth two beats. At the bottom is the value that is half the length again. Notice how every row always adds up to four beats.

In music we divide pieces up into bars to help us keep track of where we are. A bar commonly contains two, three, four or six beats (more in complex pieces). To keep things simple, imagine a four beat bar.

The Rhythmic Values table above shows you the rhythms that can fit into four beats. Many different combinations of the three common rhythmic values are possible.

Tap your foot to the second hand of the clock, counting 1, 2, 3, 4 / 1, 2, 3, 4 / 1, 2, 3, 4 to the pulse (60bpm). Now clap each row of the table in turn, whilst your foot keeps a steady pulse. Don’t pause between the rows:

Repeat this exercise but instead of clapping, play the root note you chose on Day One. Play it anywhere over the piano, but always keep the rhythm and pulse intact.

Whenever you try an exercise in this book, repeat it multiple times, only calling it a day when you can complete it without mistakes. It’s easy to skip over this advice, but repetition is the fastest way to ingrain new concepts and develop the muscle memory that will stand you in good stead.

Turn to your worksheet. It’s time to create an interesting rhythmic phrase.

Some simple rules will help you get to grips with the possibilities:

Time to choose: Select a rhythmic value for beat one. Write it here on your worksheet, where I have used a whole note as an example.

Now choose the next rhythmic value. Check it fits into the bar (refer to the rules above). Continue choosing rhythmic values until you have a complete four bar phrase, like the example one here.

Now choose an excerpt from your improvisation to focus on. Try to make your root notes flow from one to the other. Think smooth. Repeat your excerpt until it becomes effortless.