Tempo, Metre, and Rhythm

This section explains the tempo, metre and rhythm of music.

Tempo

Tempo refers to the speed of the music, the rate at which the beats occur. It is measured in beats per minute (BPM). For example, 60 BPM equals one beat per second.

Metre

Metre is how the beats are grouped in music, usually shown through time signatures.

Rhythm

Rhythm refers to the pattern of durations of notes and rests. It is how the notes are arranged in time, relative to the underlying beat.

Speed or Tempo

The tempo of a piece can be thought of as the heartbeat or pulse of the music.

It is often indicated using Italian terms:

Largo: very slow

Adagio: slow

Andante: walking pace

Moderato: moderate speed

Allegro: fast

Presto: very fast

In some cases, the tempo is written as a metronome marking at the beginning of a piece, e.g., ♩=60 (one crotchet beat per second).

Gradual Tempo Changes

Accelerando: Gradually speeding up. Often used to build excitement or tension in the music.

Rallentando: Gradually slowing down. This is used to create a relaxed or concluding feel.

Ritenuto: Immediately slower. The music slows down suddenly for a dramatic effect.

Allargando: Getting slower and broadening. The music becomes slower and fuller, often towards a grand conclusion.

Flexible Tempo

Rubato: Literally means "robbed time." In rubato, the performer may speed up or slow down the tempo for expressive purposes, giving the music a flexible, flowing quality.

Rhythm Notation

Rhythm notation shows how long each note or rest lasts relative to the beat.

Semibreve (whole note): lasts for four crotchet beats.

Minim (half note): lasts for two crotchet beats.

Crotchet (quarter note): lasts for one beat.

Quaver (eighth note): lasts for half a crotchet beat.

Semiquaver (sixteenth note): lasts for a quarter of a crotchet beat.

Time Signatures

Time signatures tell you how many beats are in each bar and what type of note gets one beat. They consist of two numbers:

Top number: tells you how many beats are in each bar.

Bottom number: tells you the type of beat:

4: crotchet beats (e.g., 4/4 time)

8: quaver beats (e.g., 6/8 time)

2: minim beats (e.g., 2/2 time)

Dotted Rhythms

A dot placed after a note increases its value by half:

A dotted crotchet lasts for 1.5 crotchets (a crotchet plus a quaver).

A dotted quaver lasts for 1.5 quavers (a quaver plus a semiquaver).

Simple and Compound Time

Simple time: Each beat is divisible by two (e.g., 2/4, 3/4, 4/4).

Compound time: Each beat is divisible by three (e.g., 6/8, 9/8, 12/8). In compound time, each beat is made up of three smaller beats, creating a “rolling” feel.

Rhythmic Devices

Syncopation: Emphasising beats that are not typically accented (often off-beats).

Cross rhythm: When two conflicting rhythms are played simultaneously (e.g., triplets against duplets).

Polyrhythm: Two or more rhythms with different pulses are played together (e.g., a rhythm in 3/4 against a rhythm in 4/4).

Triplets: Three notes played in the time of two notes of the same value.

Other Rhythmic Techniques

Hemiola: A rhythmic device where two groups of three beats are played as three groups of two beats. It gives the impression of a change in metre.

Diminution: Shortening note values to make the rhythm faster.

Augmentation: Lengthening note values to make the rhythm slower.

Offbeats: Accenting the weak beats in the bar, creating syncopation.

Upbeat (Anacrusis): A note or sequence of notes that comes before the first strong beat of the bar (the first beat of the next bar).

Rhythmic Characteristics of Popular Music

Different styles of popular music have characteristic rhythms:

Swing rhythms: Found in jazz and blues music, where quavers are played with a long-short feel, instead of being evenly spaced.

Syncopation: A prominent feature in jazz, funk, and other styles.

Walking bass: A steady, moving bass line often found in jazz and blues.

Swing Rhythms

In swing music, straight quavers are played unevenly, with the first quaver in each pair longer than the second. This gives the music a “swung” feel.

Rhythmic Characteristics of Dance Forms

Different dance forms are often identified by their tempo, metre, and rhythmic patterns:

Waltz: In 3/4 time, with a strong emphasis on the first beat of each bar.

Tango: Characterised by sharp, syncopated rhythms.

Salsa: Features complex polyrhythms and syncopation.

Samba: Often in 2/4 or 4/4 time, with syncopated rhythms and fast tempo.