Polymeter
Hear polyrhythms as independent musical cycles
Practice independent rhythmic cycles and hear where their beats coincide. Use accents and different sounds to keep each layer easy to follow.
Key idea
A polyrhythm layers different subdivisions of a shared cycle. In 3 against 4, both layers finish the cycle together even though their intermediate beats fall in different places.
Try this first
Set one layer to three beats and another to four. Listen to each separately, then combine them and follow the moments when they meet. Slow the tempo until you can clap one layer while hearing the other.
How to get started
- Choose a rhythm preset or set the beat count for each active layer.
- Set the tempo or tap it, then press Play and listen for points where the layers coincide.
- Change accents, sounds and levels to distinguish each rhythm. Compare the visual layouts without changing your pattern.
Explore a little further
Try another experiment
Listen to one layer alone, clap it, and then add the other. Try to keep clapping your original layer while hearing both. Lower the tempo if you lose the shared cycle.
Good to know
The rotating figures represent rhythmic cycles and coincidences. A polyrhythm is a relationship between layers, not simply a faster tempo or a more complex time signature.
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