Mean Music: 19. FINDING THE RHYTHM ON HEARING

19. FINDING THE RHYTHM ON HEARING:

On listening to a catchy beat or a song, we may feel like tapping our toe or nodding our head in rhythm. The constant periodic beat is the Rhythm of the song. Once a person masters finding the regular pattern of beats in a song called the Rhythm or Time signature behind any pattern of the arrangement of notes, then the strumming or drumbeats in music could be found.

Getting Time signature and Tempo

When we listen to a song, we can often find the pulse in the lower instruments. For instance, the drummer might be hitting the bass drum at a regular interval of two beats, three beats or four beats, and so on, the pianist could be comping chords in 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 time and so on, or there could be a steady walking bass line that helps us to easily identify the beat.

BPM means Beats per Minute, which is helpful to find the tempo or fastness of the song. 60 BPM means 60 beats in each minute or 1 beat per second. 120 BPM would be twice as fast: 120 beats in each minute or 2 per second.

Listening Exercises

Listening to a song helps to feel the pattern of the song and get the constant beat of the song. Tapping the toe to the pulse of the song that is felt or lightly clapping the hands-on every beat will be helpful. After being comfortable with the rhythms, we shall try to find where the first beat of each measure falls and determine the beat while listening.

Discussing with another person about the rhythmic pattern they feel about the song or music will be helpful.

Metronome is a tapping instrument that can be bought or downloaded as an app on a Computer or Phone. As an exercise, the tempo could be set at 60 BPM on the metronome. This is the equivalent of one beat per second and a good tempo to start at since many people have a resting heart rate around 60 BPM. To go along with the beat, the drumsticks or fingers of hands could be used to tap a single beat along with the metronome. After maintaining a slow beat, the tempo could be set to a different BPM and practiced. Subdivisions for slower beats could be made, until playing single beats are comfortable. The beats can be grouped into two (2/4), three (3/4), four (4/4) and so on, which will be differentiated by a strong base sound.

While listening to a song, a few minutes may be taken to get the pulse and use body to internalize the rhythm by nodding head, tapping toe, or patting hand.

19.1. ALANGARAM:

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Mean Music

Monday, January 11, 2021

19. FINDING THE RHYTHM ON HEARING

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