Area of Study 01:
Rhythm and Metre
AQA GCSE Music
Areas of Study
• AoS 01: Rhythm and Metre
• AoS 02: Harmony and Tonality
• A0S 03: Texture and Melody
• AoS 04: Dynamics and Timbre
• AoS 05: Structure and Form
Rhythm and Metre
This is all about beats, timing and sound
patterns
• Metre – This is a regular pattern of beats in
every bar, indicated by a time signature
• Rhythm – is the way different lengths of sound
are combined to produce patterns in time.
Rhythm - Back to Basics
= 4 beats
Semibreve
= 1 beat
Crotchet
= 2 beats
Minim
= ½ beat
Quaver
or
2 Quavers
Dotted Notes
• Adds half as much again to the length of the
note
= 1 beat
Add a Dot
Dotted Crotchet
Crotchet
= 2 beats
Minim
= 1 ½ beats
Add a Dot
= 3 beats
Dotted Minim
Time Signatures
• This shows us how many beats there are in a
bar
TOP NUMBER – tells you how many
beats there are in a bar
BOTTOM NUMBER – tells you how
long each beat is worth
Time Signatures –
The bottom number
2
2
3
4
6
8
A 2 at the bottom means
each beat is worth 1 minim
A 4 at the bottom means
each beat is worth 1 crotchet
An 8 at the bottom means
each beat is worth 1 quaver
Time Signatures cont.
4x
Beats every bar
Main beat of the bar
Simple Time
• Examples of Simple Time Signatures are;
2
4
3
4
4
4
Compound Time
• Compound time signature have 6, 9 or 12 as their
top number
• 6/8 Time signature has a feeling of 2 & 3
• Music in these time signatures feel as though
they have a main beat, which divide into 3.
Main Beat
Main Beat
Main Beat
Main Beat
Main Beat
Regular and Irregular
• Regular Time Signatures are when the beats in
a bar can be grouped e.g.
– 2/4, 6/8 (2 beats per bar) DUPLE
– 3/4, 9/8 (3 beats per bar) TRIPLE
– 4/4, 12/8 (4 beats per bar) QUADRUPLE
• Irregular Time Signatures are when the beats
can not be grouped as above
– e.g 5/4 – 5 beats in a bar would have to be
grouped as a 2 and 3
Track 02
Listen to the Example:
The Time Signature is 5/4. It sounds like there is one group of 3 then one group of 2 (irregular)
Listening Tests
1.
2.
3.
(i)
(iii)
What is the time signature? (Q1)
The piece is in 4/4 time how many bars introduction is there? (Q16)
Which rhythm matches the bass drum rhythm? (Q27)
(ii)
(iv)
Syncopation
• A ‘stress’ on a normaly un-stressed note –
gives an off beat feel.
• Often in jazz and pop music.
Listen to the Example:
The guitar riff is syncopated
Syncopation 2
• Syncopation can be added purely through the
use of accents on the weaker beat of the bar.
Star Wars
Hemiola
• A Hemiola rhythm has a ‘three against two’
feel.
• For example, in this 3/4 rhythm there is a
hemiola in the last two bars, giving the
impression of three minim beats in the two
bars of 3/4 time.
Hemiola
Listening Tests - 2
1. What is the time signature? (Q2)
2. What is the time signature? (Q17)
3. Listen to Stevie Wonders version of Blowin’ in
the wind’ and comment on rhythm & Metre.
(Q24)
Augmentation
• This is where a melody or series of notes is
repeated using notes of a longer duration.
• For example, a melody with the rhythm of:
Original
Notes are doubled in length
Augmentation
Diminution
• This is the opposite to Augmentation.
• The rhythm of the melody is half the length
Original
Diminution
Polyrhythms
• When two or more rhythms are played at the
same time.
• The rhythms may have accents in different
places, but still feel as though they fit
together.
• Lots of African music is polyrhythmic
• Look at the example on the next slide.
Bi-Rhythms
• Time signatures can be split up into different
patterns of beats.
• E.g. 3/4 can be divided into 3 groups of two
quavers or 2 groups of three quavers
01
02
Listening Tests - 3
1. What is the time signature? (Q13)
12/8
9/8
4/4
2/4
2. Name the rhythmic device heard in the melody (Q28)
3. On which beats of the bar does the rhythm guitar
play? (Q29)
Tempo
• Tempo simply refers to the speed of the music
• It can measured in 'beats per minute’ (bpm)
• E.g.
– Tempo:
= 120
120 crotchet beats every minute
• The speed can also be indicated by an Italian
word
Tempo – Italian words
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Presto = Very fast
Vivace = Fast and lively
Allegro = Fast, quickly and bright
Moderato = Moderately
Andante = Walking pace
Adagio = Slow
Largo = Very Slow
Rubato
• If this is written in the music, the performer is
able to make changes to the tempo.
• In response to the way the music makes them
feel, the performer may want to slow down or
speed up.
• It indicates there is no strict tempo
Listening Tests - 4
1.
What is the time signature? (Q11)
12/8
2.
4/4
2/4
What is the note value of the tambourines rhythm?(Q29)
Crotchet
3.
9/8
minim
quaver
semiquaver
Which tempo marking best suits this melody? (Q9)
Allegro
Poco Adagio
Rhubato
Vivace