Polyrhythm FUNdamentals

Dr. Brad Meyer

!!!"#$%&'()*)$"+,-
/01234254(6 - simultaneous combination of two oi moie contiasting ihythms
ex: 2 against S (2xS), Sx4, 4xS, SxS, etc.

7 52/86 09 /01234254(6
- Factoi Polyihythms
- Easy Polyihythms
- Complex Polyihythms
- Fiactuieu Polyihythms

9:;503 /01234254(6 - two ihythms at the same time, wheie one ihythm is
completely embouieu by the othei ihythm.
- !"#$%& = having one numbei being a multiple of anothei
4x2 - 4 is easily uiviueu by 2 = each beat of the 2-let is felt on eveiy othei beat of a 4-
let; 42 = <
6x2 - 6 is easily uiviueu by 2 = each beat of the 2-let aie felt on eveiy thiiu beat of a
6-let; 62 = 7
21xS - 21 is easily uiviueu by S = each beat of the S-let aie felt on eveiy seventh beat
of a 6-let; 21S = =

8:62 /01234254(6 = uFC of 12 oi less
'() (Ex: 1)
1. Finu the uieatest Common Factoi (uCF) of the two ihythms:
2 multiplieu by S = 6
visualization | - - - - - - j = 6-let (Ex: 2)
2. Finu each inuiviuual ihythm's placement:
2-let; 62 = S (eveiy thiiu beats is a pait of the 2-let); | L - - L - - j (Ex: S)
S-let; 6S = 2 (eveiy seconu beat is a pait of the S-let); | R - R - R - j (Ex: 4)
S. Nap the two ihythms on top of each othei to cieate the "#$%#&'() *+,(+$:
| b - i l i - j; b = both (Ex: S)
4. Base one ihythm on the othei's subuivisions:
S-let baseu; |1 2 S 1 2 S j = | > 2 R , ? R S j (Ex: 6)
2-let baseu; |1 2 1 2 1 2 j = | > 2 , ? L , ? 2 j (Ex: 7)

*('
1. uCF = ?<
2. Rhythmic Placement
4-let; 124 = S; )@)$* ABC$& >)%A = L
S-let; 12S = 4; )@)$* D,E$AB >)%A = R
S. Composite Rhythm = | b - - L R - L - R L - - j
4. Baseu
4-let baseu = |> 2 S R , ? 2 R 4 , ? R S 4 j
S-let baseu = |> 2 S , ? L S , ? 2 L , ? 2 S j
,,,-.&"/01232&-#%4

-*."('"'/0 -#1,*+,(+$& (using Sx2)
1. uet two suifaces with uiffeient timbies; ex: uesk w palm anu wiist, tom anu
cymbal, etc.
2. 0sing a metionome, piactice the two ihythms togethei on two suifaces to heai
the "melouy" of the composite ihythm ("Caiol of the Bells" intiouuction")
S. Piactice both ihythms on the same suiface to heai the placement of each note
- focus on the placement ANB the uouble stops that occui
4. Piactice the composite ihythm with one hanu on a iegulai suiface, anu then the
othei hanu on a soft, silent suiface (leg, uium pau, etc.).
S. Play one ihythm on the auuible suiface to feel the "flow" of the ihythm.
6. Then, auu the othei ihythm on the silent suiface. The "flow"feelingsounu of the
auuible ihythm shoulun't change.
7. Then, switch the hanus anu piactice the ihythms wheie the suifaces aie ieveiseu.
8. Next, piactice the ihythms on the opposite hanu using the same piocess.
9. Finally, put the composite ihythm back togethei on the uesiieu suifaces.

2 3#4 "./ .1&# 0)( (5# %)#%1)6 )."+ %1.,'/0 #/) #7 (+) (5# *+,(+$& #7 (+) %#1,*+,(+$6
./8 +.9) (+)$ %)*7#*$ (+)'* *)&%)"('9) *+,(+$ 5'(+ . $)(*#/#$): ;+4&6 0'9'/0 ./
.48'<1) )=.$%1) #7 (+) %#1,*+,(+$:

;0(/18F /01234254(6 = uFC gieatei than 12
5(' (Ex: 8)
1. uFC = 1S (Ex: 9)
2. Rhythmic Placement
S-let; 1SS = S; )@)$* ABC$& >)%A = L (Ex: 1u)
S-let; 1SS = S; )@)$* DCDAB >)%A = R (Ex: 11)
S. Composite Rhythm = | b - - R - L R - - R L - R - - j (Ex: 12)
4. Baseu
S-let = |> 2 S L S , ? L S 4 L , ? 2 L 4 S j (Ex: 1S)
S-let = |> 2 S , ? 2 R , ? 2 S , ? R S , ? 2 S j (Ex: 14)

93:;5G38 /01234254(6 = Leaving out one oi moie notes fiom eitheiboth
ihythms of a polyihythm
5(*6 478879: $;2 '&/ <"&$7"= >9%$2? %@ $;2 50=2$ (Ex: 17)
1. uFC = 2u
2. Rhythmic Placement
S-let; 2uS = 4; )@)$* D,E$AB >)%A = L
4-let; 2u4 = S; )@)$* DCDAB >)%A = R
S. Composite Rhythm = | b - - - L R - - (L) - R - L - - R L - - - j (Ex: 18)
4. Baseu
S-let = | > 2 S 4 L , ? 2 S (L) S , ? 2 L 4 S , ? L S 4 S j (Ex: 19)
4-let = | > 2 S 4 , ? R S 4 , (?) 2 R 4 , ? 2 S R , ? 2 S 4 j (Ex:2u)
!
"
#

%

!
"
#

&

!
"
#

'

!
"
#

(

!
"
#

)

!
"
#

*

!
"
#

+

!
"
#

%

!
"
#

&

!
"
#

'
(

!
"
#

'
'

!
"
#

'
)

!
"
#

'
*

!
"
#

'
+

!
"
#

%
&

!
"
#

%
'

!
"
#

%
(

!
"
#

)
*