Rhythm, genre and feel

[D.Josef]

Hi guys,

I have found that rhythm defines the feel, perceived genre and atmosphere of a piece quite as much, or even more, than the type of harmony and melody used.
Composite meters make the polka and waltz into what they are... And then there are techno beats, goa beats, african beats, cuban beats, jazzy beats and rock beats... And the subject of the rhythmic motion of the melody.

I was looking around for resources on this subject for quite a long time, but the best source I have found so far was to listen to music. Anyway, I think it's important enough to talk about and share ideas, and maybe some collected bodies of knowledge, if any exists.
If anyone knows of online (or offline) sources of rhythmic coolness - for example currently I'm really interested in how rhythm is used in folk music around the world, it seems like an infinite treasure trove -, or ideas to share on this subject, it would be really cool.

[coquillo]

I have been exploring Euclidean rhythms recently. Especially interesting when you get into the longer sequences and metric modulations.

[tapper mike]

Well you've pretty much defined it. Although I'll state my usual at this point. Aside from heavy metal and trance you'll find it all in band in a box.

Although I will say that types of harmony and rhythm separate styles. In jazz guitar I almost never hear the 5th for any variety of 7th chords unless it's altered or crops up as the 12th. Likewise a lot of rock they avoid the 3rd altogether in chords especially if there is any type of overdrive/distortion on the rhythm guitar. I don't hear a lot of barre chords in country.

[D.Josef]

I have been exploring Euclidean rhythms recently. Especially interesting when you get into the longer sequences and metric modulations.

Thanks, a cool thing I haven't heard of before!

I read some refs and I really like this approach. I'll link the original article for posterity:
http://cgm.cs.mcgill.ca/~godfried/publi ... /banff.pdf

Also a page with a rhythm testbed in flash:
http://www.hisschemoller.com/2011/euclidean-rhythms/

Although I will say that types of harmony and rhythm separate styles.

I never really said they don't.
Though, you can create a rocky feeling with a rocky drumbeat, or a jazzy one with a bossa nova and, heh yes lots of 7th chords lol, with a II-V-I thrown in. But still people talk about harmony all the time, and a lot less about rhythm.

Sure it's quite simple, especially in comparison, but just as important. If you take white noise and put rhythm into it, everyone on the streets, even little kids will recognize it as music. If you have no rhythm at all, only harmony, the results are far less recognizable.

[shankfiddle]

the thing is that even in the context of melody and harmony you are discussing rhythm. a chord progression has rhythm whether you like it (or consider it 'music') or not .

You can represent any of these aforementioned rhythms in a chord progression, or a melodic ostinato and superimpose the whole thing over a percussion track playing yet another rhythm. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that percussion HAS TO be a repetitive-genre-defining rhythm. If you put the rhythm in the piano/guit/whatever (so there is something simple for the ear to follow) it can free up the drums to go nuts and play "melodically"

Any chord progression, even if there are no drums in sight, HAS rhythm.

I think the reason there aren't as many strictly rhythm discussions is that it gets redundant.

and talking about "perceived genre" isn't productive- all perceptions are flawed. they will be unique to the individual. what you are doing, studying examples found in music is really the way to go.

[Sascha Franck]

D.Josef: Any chance you could sort of describe your current knowledge of rhythm stuff? I mean, do you already know most of the common rhythmic patterns we're usually dealing with in "western" music styles? Can you play them? Program them in your sequencer?

- Sascha

[jancivil]

it seems like an infinite treasure trove

you'll find it all in band in a box.

[tapper mike]

Band in a box has over 1500 "Styles" collections in the older midi based format and another 154 in the new "real tracks" format. As well there is a very large and active biab community. As biab styles can be built from scratch there are several free and pay styles on the market.

It's more then a life times worth of study material for the accompanist just working out the various styles. It also makes a nice bedrock accompanist for the soloist performer who actually wants to improvise as jazz and blues performers do.

[D.Josef]

I mean, do you already know most of the common rhythmic patterns we're usually dealing with in "western" music styles? Can you play them? Program them in your sequencer?

I'm not a drummer, so this is not really my prime area. I play the piano, though not as well as I want to, so recently I started to do some practice on the djembe to improve my timing.
I know the most basic rhythmic styles in western music, and some ethno ones I picked up from Wikipedia and such. Though when it comes to programming bass lines or playing chords, it's still mostly experimentation - like "let's see how it sounds if I put a rest here"...