- each beat contains equal divisions of the beat
- it's common to divide the beat into 2 or 4 parts
Here's the rhythm of the first half of Mary Had a Little
Lamb:
|
| x x x x x x x x x x x x x
|__________________________________________________________________
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1
Ma- ry had a li- ttle lamb li- ttle lamb li- ttle lamb
- the period (.) between each beat is a division of the
beat
- it marks the midpoint in time between a beat and the next
beat
Here's a common drum set rhythm:
snare | x x x x
| etc.
b.d.* | x x x x x x x
|__________________________________________________
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1
* bass drum
- beat 1 is commonly called the downbeat
- beats 2 and 4 are commonly called the backbeat (or
upbeat)