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Names or Abbreviations for rhythmic units
- Thread starter IamGroot
- Start date
In my experience, rhythms with specific names tend to be less granular, being one or two bar phrases. The names generally reflect the cultures origin. Clave, tumbao, tresillo, bembe, maqsum, etc. There are also names for specific accents within a measure like ponche (2&) and bombo(4)
For smaller subdivision figures - at least before learning to read notation - I relied on the elementary school Ta, Ta, Titi, Ta or the Indian Takadimi vocalizations. As I gain fluency in reading notation visualizing matters less.
For smaller subdivision figures - at least before learning to read notation - I relied on the elementary school Ta, Ta, Titi, Ta or the Indian Takadimi vocalizations. As I gain fluency in reading notation visualizing matters less.
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Do you mean in the context of the compound time signature or of actual rhythmic figures used in actual music? If the former, then any compound time beat is a dotted something - the dotted 1/4 in 6/4, for example. I've never seen a time signature that uses a double-dotted base unit, but that is not to say someone hasn't done it. There is an argument that the base unit for 7/8 time signature could be a double-dotted minim, for example.
Otherwise, names are generally reserved for specific figures or patterns rather than simple note/beat values. In addition to those latin figures noted by @mambo4 above, there are also the european baroque (dance) figures such as Gavotte, Sarabande, Allemande, Bourree, Minuet, Gigue, Polonaise, etc. Then there are the figures used in traditional folk dance such as the hornpipe, jig, reel, polka, etc... Then there are the ballroom styles - tango, quickstep, foxtrot, and so on.
Not sure if this is what OP is asking about, but in a lot of society orchestra and General Business gigs I've done the MD presumes that everyone knows a "ta-da" refers to a 16th-note pickup into a half note under a fermata, played on the tonic note (or, if as an isolated bump, on a C major chord).
Usually gets called right as the magician reveals that he did not in fact saw Miss Thing in half.
Usually gets called right as the magician reveals that he did not in fact saw Miss Thing in half.
OK. I made up my own answer to my question.
In the absence of names, I have been using my own rhythmic notation based on 16th notes
1111 is 4 16th notes
2020 is two eighth notes
121 is a 16 th + 8th + 16
X21 is a 16th noted tied to a previous beat plus a 8th note plus 16 note
T111 is a triple
T011,T101 etc
0001 is 16th note lead in.
This notation allows me to do quick rhythmic analysis in Excel.
Yes, its nerdy, but it works for me.
In the absence of names, I have been using my own rhythmic notation based on 16th notes
1111 is 4 16th notes
2020 is two eighth notes
121 is a 16 th + 8th + 16
X21 is a 16th noted tied to a previous beat plus a 8th note plus 16 note
T111 is a triple
T011,T101 etc
0001 is 16th note lead in.
This notation allows me to do quick rhythmic analysis in Excel.
Yes, its nerdy, but it works for me.
May I ask for what purpose Excel serves better than standard notation? Surely this is easier to see/hear/read...
For example, which rhythmic patterns does James Jamerson use in "What's Goin On" and what is the distribution?
Names like Gigue etc from European music refers to the structure, time signature and the rhythm of the dance ...
to me nothing beats standard notation to understand what is going on and what should be played
to me nothing beats standard notation to understand what is going on and what should be played
There is no global standard naming convention even for individual notes. British and European use breves, minims, crotchets, and quavers, whereas Americans use whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes.
I’m not aware of any existing terms for a grouping or rhythm pattern. Although the term “Wagnerian triplet” is widely recognized.
I’m not aware of any existing terms for a grouping or rhythm pattern. Although the term “Wagnerian triplet” is widely recognized.
only USA different name for the notes ... everyone else use the same name (well translated in different language)
same thing for dimension ... USA is pretty much the only one using inches while everyone else use centimetres
IMHO
The effort spent funneling rhythms into some alternative notation scheme is probably better spent just practicing reading rhythm, and analyzing it the way music scholars have done for centuries. It reminds me of those who spend time and effort on developing an alternative for standard notation ...using colors or numbers to replace dots / lines /spaces, trying to get away from accidentals etc. Learning to read rhythm is hard, but it's not that hard.
The rhythm pattern in Wagner’s Flight of the Valkyries (The Apocalypse Now helicopter napalm theme)
