# Polyrhythm

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Simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms

For the Perfume song, see [Polyrhythm (song)](/source/Polyrhythm_(song)).

Polyrhythm: [Triplets](/source/Tuplet) over [duplets](/source/Tuplet) in all four [beats](/source/Beat_(music))[1]

2:3 polyrhythm (cross rhythm) as bounce inside oval

**Polyrhythm** ([/ˈpɒlirɪðəm/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English)) is the simultaneous use of two or more [rhythms](/source/Rhythm) that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter.[2] The rhythmic layers may be the basis of an entire piece of music ([cross-rhythm](/source/Cross-rhythm)), or a momentary section. Polyrhythms can be distinguished from [irrational rhythms](/source/Irrational_rhythm), which can occur within the context of a single [part](/source/Part_(music)); polyrhythms require at least two rhythms to be played concurrently, one of which is typically an irrational rhythm. Concurrently in this context means within the same rhythmic cycle. The underlying pulse, whether explicit or implicit can be considered one of the concurrent rhythms. For example, the [son clave](/source/Clave_(rhythm)#Son_clave) is poly-rhythmic because its 3 section suggests a different meter from the pulse of the entire pattern.[3]

## In western art music

In some [European art music](/source/European_art_music), polyrhythm periodically contradicts the prevailing meter. For example, in [Mozart](/source/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart)'s opera *[Don Giovanni](/source/Don_Giovanni)*, two orchestras are heard playing together in different metres (**3** **4** and **2** **4**):

Mozart *Don Giovanni* 2 dances together

Mozart, *Don Giovanni* dances from act 1, scene 5

They are later joined by a third band, playing in **3** **8** time.

Polyrhythm is heard near the opening of [Beethoven](/source/Beethoven)'s [Symphony No. 3](/source/Symphony_No._3_(Beethoven)). (See also [syncopation](/source/Syncopation).)

[Chopin](/source/Chopin) often explored the rhythmic possibilities inherent in the independence of a pianist's two hands. A spectacular example may be found in his [Étude, Op, 10 No. 10](/source/%C3%89tude_Op._10%2C_No._10_(Chopin)). [Alan Walker](/source/Alan_Walker_(musicologist)) comments that while this piece is straightforward for listeners, "From the player’s point of view, however, nothing is straightforward. Chopin has placed him inside a veritable hornets’ nest of cross-rhythms and syncopations. The melody first emerges from a background of triplets, then of duplets. Accents are changed without warning, shifting the balance of the phrase sideways, so to speak, together with the place of each note within it."[4]

Polyrhythm is a particularly common feature of the music of [Brahms](/source/Brahms). Writing about the [Violin Sonata in G major, Op. 78](/source/Violin_Sonata_No._1_(Brahms)), [Jan Swafford](/source/Jan_Swafford) (1997, p. 456) says "In the first movement Brahms plays elaborate games with the phrasing, switching the stresses of the **6** **4** meter back and forth between **3+3** and **2+2+2**, or superimposing both in violin and piano. These ideas gather at the climax at measure 235, with the layering of phrases making an effect that perhaps during the 19th century only Brahms could have conceived."[5]

Brahms Violin Sonata in G, 1, bars 235ff

Brahms Violin Sonata in G, 1, bars 235ff

In "The Snow Is Dancing" from his *[Children's Corner](/source/Children's_Corner)* suite, [Debussy](/source/Claude_Debussy) introduces a melody "on a static, repeated B-flat, cast in triplet-division cross rhythms which offset this stratum independently of the sixteenth notes comprising the two dancing-snowflake lines below it."[6] "In this section great attention to the exactitude of rhythms is demanded by the polyrhythmic superposition of pedals, [ostinato](/source/Ostinato), and melody."[7]

Debussy, "The Snow Is Dancing", bars 34–38

Debussy, "The Snow Is Dancing", bars 34–38

### Hemiola

Concerning the use of a two-over-three (2:3) [hemiola](/source/Hemiola) in Beethoven's [String Quartet No. 6](/source/String_Quartet_No._6_(Beethoven)), Ernest Walker states, "The vigorously effective [Scherzo](/source/Scherzo) is in **3** **4** time, but with a curiously persistent [cross-rhythm](/source/Cross-rhythm) that does its best to persuade us that it is really in **6** **8**."[8]

Beethoven Scherzo from String Quartet, Op. 18, No. 6

Beethoven Scherzo from Op. 18, No. 6, violin and cello only

### Polyrhythm, not polymeter

The illusion of simultaneous **3** **4** and **6** **8**, suggests [polymeter](/source/Polymeter): [triple meter](/source/Meter_(music)) combined with [compound duple meter](/source/Meter_(music)).

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/3/u/3uy5yfa2sj9q3aecahbggd1uoa1x6en/3uy5yfa2.mp3).

However, the two beat schemes interact within a metric hierarchy (a single meter). The triple beats are primary and the duple beats are secondary; the duple beats are [cross-beats](/source/Cross-beat) within a triple beat scheme.

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/9/p/9pe8mj2hxfjaxctbizsv467tepmve9v/9pe8mj2h.mp3).

### Composite hemiola

The four-note [ostinato](/source/Ostinato) pattern of [Mykola Leontovych](/source/Mykola_Leontovych)'s "[Carol of the Bells](/source/Carol_of_the_Bells)" (the first measure below) is the composite of the two-against-three [hemiola](/source/Hemiola) (the second measure).

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/b/x/bxeelfy3njucfwm9bx6gy7smwi3rqv9/bxeelfy3.mp3).

Another example of polyrhythm can be found in measures 64 and 65 of the first movement of [Mozart](/source/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart)'s [Piano Sonata No. 12](/source/Piano_Sonata_No._12_(Mozart)). Three evenly-spaced sets of three attack-points span two measures.

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/s/5/s5elvukt2crs9aqn8igtnayl7upzug1/s5elvukt.mp3).

## Cross-rhythm

[Cross-rhythm](/source/Cross-rhythm) refers to systemic polyrhythm. The *Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music* defines it as “The Regular shift of some beats in a metric pattern to points ahead of or behind their normal positions.” [9] The finale of [Brahms](/source/Brahms) [Symphony No. 2](/source/Symphony_No._2_(Brahms)) features a powerful passage where the prevailing metre of four beats to the bar becomes disrupted. Here is the passage as notated in the score:

Brahms Symphony No. 2, finale, bars 126-142

Here is the same passage re-barred to clarify how the ear may actually experience the changing metres:

Brahms Symphony No. 2, finale, bars 126-142

Brahms Symphony No. 2, finale, bars 126–142, re-barred

“Polyrhythms run through Brahms’s music like an obsessive-compulsive streak...For Brahms, subdividing a measure of time into different units and layering different patterns on top of one another seemed to be almost a compulsion — as well as a compositional device and an engine of expression. ”[10]

Another straightforward example of a cross-rhythm is 3 evenly spaced notes against 2 (3:2), also known as a [hemiola](/source/Hemiola). Two simple and common ways to express this pattern in standard western musical notation would be 3 quarter notes over 2 dotted quarter notes within one bar of **6** **8** time, quarter note triplets over 2 quarter notes within one bar of **2** **4** time. Other cross-rhythms are 4:3 (with 4 dotted eighth notes over 3 quarter notes within a bar of **3** **4** time as an example in standard western musical notation), 5:2, 5:3, 5:4, etc.

Representation of 4 beats parallel to 5 beats

In auditory processing, rhythms are perceived as pitches once they have been sufficiently sped up. Furthermore, intervals of rhythms are perceived as intervals of pitch once sufficiently sped up. As such[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*], there is a parallel between cross-rhythms and [musical intervals](/source/Interval_(music)): in an audible frequency range, the 2:3 ratio produces the musical interval of a [perfect fifth](/source/Perfect_fifth), the 3:4 ratio produces a [perfect fourth](/source/Perfect_fourth), and the 4:5 ratio produces a [major third](/source/Major_third). All these [interval ratios](/source/Interval_ratio) are found in the [harmonic series](/source/Harmonic_series_(music)). These are called harmonic polyrhythms.

## Sub-Saharan African music traditions

### Comparing European and Sub-Saharan African meter

In traditional European ("Western") rhythms, the most fundamental parts typically emphasize the primary beats. By contrast, in rhythms of sub-Saharan African origin, the most fundamental parts typically emphasize the secondary beats. This often causes the uninitiated ear to misinterpret the secondary beats as the primary beats, and to hear the true primary beats as cross-beats. In other words, the musical "background" and "foreground" may mistakenly be heard and felt in reverse—Peñalosa (2009: 21)[11]

### The generating principle

In non-Saharan [African music traditions](/source/Music_of_Africa), cross-rhythm is the generating principle; the meter is in a permanent state of contradiction. Cross-rhythm was first explained as the basis of non-Saharan rhythm in lectures by C.K. Ladzekpo and the writings of David Locke.

From the philosophical perspective of the African musician, cross-beats can symbolize the challenging moments or emotional stress we all encounter. Playing cross-beats while fully grounded in the main beats, prepares one for maintaining a life-purpose while dealing with life's challenges. Many non-Saharan languages do not have a word for *rhythm*, or even *music*. From the African viewpoint, the rhythms represent the very fabric of life itself; they are an embodiment of the people, symbolizing interdependence in human relationships—Peñalosa (2009: 21).[11]

At the center of a core of rhythmic traditions within which the composer conveys his ideas is the technique of cross-rhythm. The technique of cross-rhythm is a simultaneous use of contrasting rhythmic patterns within the same scheme of accents or [meter](/source/Meter)... By the very nature of the desired resultant rhythm, the main beat scheme cannot be separated from the secondary beat scheme. It is the interplay of the two elements that produces the cross-rhythmic texture—Ladzekpo (1995).[12]

Eugene Novotney observes: "The 3:2 relationship (and [its] permutations) is the foundation of most typical polyrhythmic textures found in West African musics."[13] 3:2 is the *generative* or *theoretic form* of non-Saharan rhythmic principles. [Victor Kofi Agawu](/source/Victor_Kofi_Agawu) succinctly states, "[The] resultant [3:2] rhythm holds the key to understanding... there is no independence here, because 2 and 3 belong to a single Gestalt."[14]

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/i/a/ia9ajjj2tpw3ijrgqaauuqkja90k1s6/ia9ajjj2.mp3).

The two beat schemes interact within the hierarchy of a single meter. The duple beats are primary and the triple beats are secondary. The example below shows the African 3:2 cross-rhythm within its proper metric structure.

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/b/2/b21uel4royozsnjgple9qon4zfgm3u8/b21uel4r.mp3).

The music of African [xylophones](/source/Xylophone), such as the [balafon](/source/Balafon) and [gyil](/source/Gyil), is often based on cross-rhythm. In the following example, a Ghanaian gyil sounds a 3:2-based [ostinato](/source/Ostinato) melody. The left hand (lower notes) sounds the two main beats, while the right hand (upper notes) sounds the three cross-beats.[15] The cross-beats are written as quarter-notes for visual emphasis.

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/override-midi/h/w/hw3t7zee5of7o0yjroyd5zkgh6p2vt9.mp3).

The following notated example is from the [kushaura](/source/Kushaura) part of the traditional [mbira](/source/Mbira) piece "Nhema Mussasa". The mbira is a [lamellophone](/source/Lamellophone). The left hand plays the ostinato bass line while the right hand plays the upper melody. The composite melody is an embellishment of the 3:2 cross-rhythm.[16]

### Adaptive instruments

Sub-Saharan instruments are constructed in a variety of ways to generate polyrhythmic melodies. Some instruments organize the pitches in a uniquely divided alternate array, not in the straight linear [bass](/source/Bass_(sound)) to [treble](/source/Treble_(sound)) structure that is so common to many western instruments such as the [piano](/source/Piano), [harp](/source/Harp), or [marimba](/source/Marimba).

Hugh Tracey Treble [Kalimba](/source/Kalimba)

[Lamellophones](/source/Lamellophone) including [mbira](/source/Mbira), mbila, mbira huru, mbira njari, mbira nyunga, marimba, karimba, [kalimba](/source/Kalimba), likembe, and okeme. This family of instruments are found in several forms indigenous to different regions of Africa and most often have equal tonal ranges for right and left hands. The [kalimba](/source/Kalimba) is a modern version of these instruments originated by the pioneer ethnomusicologist [Hugh Tracey](/source/Hugh_Tracey) in the early 20th century which has over the years gained worldwide popularity.

Signature Series [Gravikord](/source/Gravikord)

[Chordophones](/source/Chordophone), such as the West African [kora](/source/Kora_(instrument)), and doussn'gouni, part of the [harp-lute](/source/Harp-lute) family of instruments, also have this African separated double tonal array structure.[17][*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*]Another instrument, the [Marovany](/source/Marovany) from Madagascar is a double sided box zither which also employs this divided tonal structure. [Trough zithers](/source/Trough_zither) also have the ability to play polyrhythms.

The [Gravikord](/source/Gravikord) is a new American instrument closely related to both the African kora and the kalimba was created in the latter 20th century to also exploit this adaptive principle in a modern electro-acoustic instrument.[18]

On these instruments, one hand of the musician is not primarily in the bass nor the other primarily in the treble, but both hands can play freely across the entire tonal range of the instrument. Also, the fingers of each hand can play separate independent rhythmic patterns, and these can easily cross over each other from treble to bass and back, either smoothly or with varying amounts of [syncopation](/source/Syncopation). This can all be done within the same tight tonal range, without the left and right hand fingers ever physically encountering each other. These simple rhythms will interact musically to produce complex cross rhythms including repeating on beat/[off beat](/source/Off-beat_(music)) pattern shifts that would be very difficult to create by any other means. This characteristically African structure allows often simple playing techniques to combine with each other to produce polyrhythmic music.

## Jazz

### 3:2 cross-rhythm

Polyrhythm is a staple of modern [jazz](/source/Jazz). Although not as common, use of systemic [cross-rhythm](/source/Cross-rhythm) is also found in jazz. In 1959, [Mongo Santamaria](/source/Mongo_Santamaria) recorded "[Afro Blue](/source/Afro_Blue)", the first jazz standard built upon a typical African 6:4 cross-rhythm (two cycles of 3:2).[19] The song begins with the bass repeatedly playing 6 cross-beats per each measure of **12** **8** (6:4). The following example shows the original [ostinato](/source/Ostinato) "Afro Blue" bass line. The cross noteheads indicate the main [beats](/source/Beat_music).

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can [download the audio file](https://upload.wikimedia.org/score/d/5/d59ihbih24t6kzavk50jf72d7ko0mih/d59ihbih.mp3).

### 2:3 cross-rhythm

The famous jazz drummer [Elvin Jones](/source/Elvin_Jones) took the opposite approach, superimposing two cross-beats over every measure of a **3** **4** jazz waltz (2:3). This swung **3** **4** is perhaps the most common example of overt cross-rhythm in jazz.[20] In 1963 [John Coltrane](/source/John_Coltrane) recorded "Afro Blue" with Elvin Jones on drums.[21][22] Coltrane reversed the metric hierarchy of Santamaria's composition, performing it instead in **3** **4** swing (2:3).

## In popular music

Nigerian percussion master [Babatunde Olatunji](/source/Babatunde_Olatunji) arrived on the American music scene in 1959 with his album *[Drums of Passion](/source/Drums_of_Passion_(album))*, which was a collection of traditional [Nigerian](/source/Music_of_Nigeria) music for percussion and chanting. The album stayed on the charts for two years and had a profound impact on jazz and American popular music.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Trained in the [Yoruba](/source/Yoruba_music) [sakara](/source/Sakara_drum) style of drumming, Olatunji would have a major impact on Western popular music.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] He went on to teach, collaborate and record with numerous jazz and rock artists, including [Airto Moreira](/source/Airto_Moreira), [Carlos Santana](/source/Carlos_Santana) and [Mickey Hart](/source/Mickey_Hart) of the [Grateful Dead](/source/Grateful_Dead). Olatunji reached his greatest popularity during the height of the [Black Arts Movement](/source/Black_Arts_Movement) of the 1960s and 1970s.

[Afro-Cuban music](/source/Cuban_music) makes extensive use of polyrhythms. [Cuban Rumba](/source/Cuban_Rumba) uses 3-based and 2-based rhythms at the same time. For example, the lead drummer (playing the [quinto](/source/Rumba_quinto)) might play in **6** **8**, while the rest of the ensemble keeps playing **2** **2**. [Afro-Cuban](/source/Afro-Cuban) *conguero*, or [conga](/source/Conga) player, [Mongo Santamaría](/source/Mongo_Santamar%C3%ADa) was another percussionist whose polyrhythmic virtuosity helped transform both jazz and popular music. Santamaria fused Afro-Latin rhythms with [R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues) and jazz as a bandleader in the 1950s, and was featured in the 1994 album *[Buena Vista Social Club](/source/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(album))*, which was the inspiration for [the like-titled documentary](/source/Buena_Vista_Social_Club_(film)) released five years later.

Another form of polyrhythmic music is south Indian classical [Carnatic music](/source/Carnatic_music). A kind of rhythmic [solfege](/source/Solfege) called [konnakol](/source/Konnakol) is used as a tool to construct highly complex polyrhythms and to divide each beat of a pulse into various subdivisions, with the emphasised beat shifting from beat cycle to beat cycle.

Common polyrhythms found in jazz are 3:2, which manifests as the quarter-note triplet; 2:3, usually in the form of dotted-quarter notes against quarter notes; 4:3, played as dotted-eighth notes against quarter notes (this one demands some technical proficiency to perform accurately, and was not at all common in jazz before [Tony Williams](/source/Tony_Williams_(drummer)) used it when playing with [Miles Davis](/source/Miles_Davis)); and finally **3** **4** time against **4** **4**, which along with 2:3 was used famously by [Elvin Jones](/source/Elvin_Jones) and [McCoy Tyner](/source/McCoy_Tyner) playing with [John Coltrane](/source/John_Coltrane).

[Frank Zappa](/source/Frank_Zappa), especially towards the end of his career, experimented with complex polyrhythms, such as 11:17, and even nested polyrhythms (see "[The Black Page](/source/The_Black_Page)" for an example). The highly avant garde album produced by Frank Zappa, [Trout Mask Replica](/source/Trout_Mask_Replica) by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band found extensive use of polyrhythm and cross-rhythm. The [metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) bands [Mudvayne](/source/Mudvayne), [Nothingface](/source/Nothingface_(band)), [Threat Signal](/source/Threat_Signal), [Lamb of God](/source/Lamb_of_God_(band)), also use polyrhythms in their music.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Contemporary [progressive metal](/source/Progressive_metal) bands such as [Meshuggah](/source/Meshuggah), [Gojira](/source/Gojira_(band)),[23] [Periphery](/source/Periphery_(band)), [Textures](/source/Textures_(band)), [TesseracT](/source/TesseracT), [Tool](/source/Tool_(band)), [Animals as Leaders](/source/Animals_as_Leaders), [Between the Buried and Me](/source/Between_the_Buried_and_Me) and [Dream Theater](/source/Dream_Theater) also incorporate polyrhythms in their music, and polyrhythms have also been increasingly heard in technical metal bands such as [Ion Dissonance](/source/Ion_Dissonance), [The Dillinger Escape Plan](/source/The_Dillinger_Escape_Plan), [Necrophagist](/source/Necrophagist), [Candiria](/source/Candiria), [The Contortionist](/source/The_Contortionist) and [Textures](/source/Textures_(band)).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Much [minimalist](/source/Minimalism) and [totalist](/source/Totalism_(music)) music makes extensive use of polyrhythms. [Henry Cowell](/source/Henry_Cowell) and [Conlon Nancarrow](/source/Conlon_Nancarrow) created music with yet more complex polytempo and using irrational numbers like [π](/source/Pi):[*e*](/source/E_(mathematical_constant)).[24]

[Peter Magadini](/source/Peter_Magadini)'s album *Polyrhythm*, with musicians [Peter Magadini](/source/Peter_Magadini), [George Duke](/source/George_Duke), David Young, and [Don Menza](/source/Don_Menza), features different polyrhythmic themes on each of the six songs.

1. Doin' Time and a Half: Has the polyrhythmic theme of 6 over 4.

1. Five For Barbara: Mostly in **5** **4** with a recurring section in **4** **4** featuring 5 over 4.

1. The Modulator: The beginning tempo modulates to two times faster and then modulates back to two times slower.

1. Seventy Fourth Ave: In **7** **4**, with different instruments playing a 4 over the 7 occasionally.

1. Samba de Rollins: Includes a drum solo based on 3 over 4.

1. Midnight Bolero: In **3** **4**, has a continuous interlude of 2 over 3 and then 4 over 3.

[King Crimson](/source/King_Crimson) used polyrhythms extensively in their 1981 album [*Discipline*](/source/Discipline_(King_Crimson_album)).[25] Above all [Bill Bruford](/source/Bill_Bruford) used polyrhythmic drumming throughout his career.

The band [Queen](/source/Queen_(band)) used polyrhythm in their 1974 song "[The March of the Black Queen](/source/Queen_II#"The_March_of_the_Black_Queen")" with **8** **8** and **12** **8** time signatures.[26]

[Talking Heads](/source/Talking_Heads)' *[Remain in Light](/source/Remain_in_Light)* used dense polyrhythms throughout the album, most notably on the song "The Great Curve".[27]

[Megadeth](/source/Megadeth) frequently tends to use polyrhythm in its drumming, notably from songs such as "Sleepwalker" or the ending of "[My Last Words](/source/My_Last_Words)", which are both played in 2:3.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

[Carbon Based Lifeforms](/source/Carbon_Based_Lifeforms) have a song named "*Polyrytmi*", [Finnish](/source/Finnish_language) for "polyrhythm", on their album [Interloper](/source/Interloper_(album)). This song indeed does use polyrhythms in its melody.[28][*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

[Aphex Twin](/source/Aphex_Twin) makes extensive use of polyrhythms in his electronic compositions.

Japanese girl group [Perfume](/source/Perfume_(Japanese_band)) made use of the technique in their single, appropriately titled "[Polyrhythm](/source/Polyrhythm_(song))", included on their second album *[Game](/source/Game_(Perfume_album))*. The bridge of the song incorporates **5** **8**, **6** **8** in the vocals, common time (**4** **4**) and **3** **2** in the drums.[29]

The [Britney Spears](/source/Britney_Spears) single "[Till the World Ends](/source/Till_the_World_Ends)" (released March 2011) uses a 4:3 cross-rhythm in its hook.[30]

The outro of the song "[Animals](/source/Animals_(Muse_song))" from the album *[The 2nd Law](/source/The_2nd_Law)* by the band [Muse](/source/Muse_(band)) uses **5** **4** and **4** **4** time signatures for the guitar and drums respectively.

The [Aaliyah](/source/Aaliyah) song "Quit Hatin" uses **9** **8** against **4** **4** in the chorus.

The [Japanese idol](/source/Japanese_idol) group [3776](/source/3776) makes use of polyrhythm in a number of their songs, most notably on their 2014 mini-album "[Love Letter](/source/Love_Letter_(3776_album))", which features five songs that all include several rhythmic references to the number 3776. A secret track on the album has the group's leader, Ide Chiyono, explain some of the uses of polyrhythm to the listener.

[The National](/source/The_National_(band)) song "[Fake Empire](/source/Fake_Empire)" uses a 4 over 3 polyrhythm.[31]

[The Cars](/source/The_Cars)' song "[Touch and Go](/source/Touch_and_Go_(The_Cars_song))" has a **5** **4** rhythm in the drum and bass and a **4** **4** rhythm in the keys and vocals.

Harpist and pop folk musician [Joanna Newsom](/source/Joanna_Newsom) is known for the use of polyrhythms on her albums *[The Milk-Eyed Mender](/source/The_Milk-Eyed_Mender)* and *[Ys](/source/Ys_(Joanna_Newsom_album))*.[32]

[King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard](/source/King_Gizzard_%26_the_Lizard_Wizard) used polyrhythms extensively throughout their discography, most notably on the album *[Polygondwanaland](/source/Polygondwanaland)*.

In [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam), [bolero](/source/Bolero) songs are composed with **3** **4** against **4** **4**.

The [Britney Spears](/source/Britney_Spears) song "[...Baby One More Time](/source/...Baby_One_More_Time)" contains a 16:9 polyrhythm in the beginning of the music video (the boot tapping 16 times every 9 times the clock ticks - a full cycle can be heard from 0:05 to 0:14).

The Sky Signals song "Amaterasu" is constructed around a 5:4 polyrhythm.

## Examples

The following is an example of a 3 against 2 polyrhythm, given in [time unit box system](/source/Time_unit_box_system) (TUBS) notation; each box represents a fixed unit of time; time progresses from the left of the diagram to the right. It is in bad form to teach a student to play 3:2 polyrhythms as simply quarter note, eighth note, eighth note, quarter note. The proper way is to establish sound bases for both the quarter-notes, and the triplet-quarters, and then to layer them upon each other, forming multiple rhythms. Beats are indicated with an X; rests are indicated with a blank.

- 3 against 2 polyrhythm 3-beat rhythm X X X X X X X X X X X X 2-beat rhythm X X X X X X X X

A common memory aid to help with the 3 against 2 polyrhythm is that it has the same rhythm as the phrase "not difficult"; the simultaneous beats occur on the word "not"; the second and third of the triple beat land on "dif" and "cult", respectively. The second 2-beat lands on the "fi" in "difficult". Try saying "not difficult" over and over in time with the sound file above. This will emphasize the "3 side" of the 3 against 2 feel. Now try saying the phrase "not a problem", stressing the syllables "not" and "prob-". This will emphasize the "2 side" of the 3 against 2 feel. More phrases with the same rhythm are "cold cup of tea", "four funny frogs", "come, if you please", and "[ring, Christmas bells](/source/Carol_of_the_Bells)".

Similar phrases for the 4 against 3 polyrhythm are "pass the golden butter"[1] or "pass the goddamn butter"[33] and "what atrocious weather" (or "what a load of rubbish" in British English); the 4 against 3 polyrhythm is shown below.

- 4 against 3 polyrhythm 4-beat rhythm X X X X X X X X 3-beat rhythm X X X X X X

A 3 against 4 polyrhythm Problems playing this file? See media help. Polyrhythm 4 4 with 3 4 simultaneously (cross rhythm) as bounce inside oval

As can be seen from above, the counting for polyrhythms is determined by the [lowest common multiple](/source/Least_common_multiple), so if one wishes to count 2 against 3, one needs to count a total of 6 beats, as lcm(2,3) = 6 (***1***2***3***4***5***6 and ***1***23***4***56). However this is only useful for very simple polyrhythms, or for getting a feel for more complex ones, as the total number of beats rises quickly. To count 4 against 5, for example, requires a total of 20 beats, and counting thus slows the tempo considerably. However some players, such as [classical Indian musicians](/source/Indian_Classical_Music), can intuitively play high polyrhythms such as 7 against 8.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Polyrhythms are quite common in late [Romantic Music](/source/Romantic_Music) and [20th-century classical music](/source/20th-century_classical_music). Works for keyboard often set odd rhythms against one another in separate hands. A good example is in the soloist's cadenza in [Grieg](/source/Grieg)'s [Concerto in A Minor](/source/Piano_Concerto_(Grieg)); the left hand plays [arpeggios](/source/Arpeggios) of seven notes to a beat; the right hand plays an ostinato of eight notes per beat while also playing the melody in octaves, which uses whole notes, dotted eighth notes, and triplets. Other instances occur often in [Rachmaninoff](/source/Rachmaninoff)'s [Piano Concerto No. 2](/source/Piano_Concerto_No._2_(Rachmaninoff)).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The piano arpeggios that constitute much of the soloist's material in the first movement often have anywhere from four to eleven notes per beat. In the last movement, the piano's opening run, marked 'quasi [glissando](/source/Glissando)', fits 52 notes into the space of one [measure](/source/Bar_(music)), making for a glissando-like effect while keeping the mood of the music. Other instances in this movement include a scale that juxtaposes ten notes in the right hand against four in the left, and one of the main themes in the piano, which imposes an eighth-note melody on a triplet harmony.

### List of basic polyrhythms

First rhythm Second rhythm Least common multiple 2 3 6 2 5 10 3 4 12 2 7 14 3 5 15 2 9 18 4 5 20 3 7 21 3 8 24 4 6 12 4 7 28 5 6 30 5 7 35 4 9 36 5 8 40 6 7 42 5 9 45 6 8 24 6 9 18 7 8 56 7 9 63 7 11 77 8 9 72

## See also

- [Beat (acoustics)](/source/Beat_(acoustics)) – another example of the same effect (mathematically), but with two continuous waves rather than a hit of the instrument only at every peak and trough of either wave.

- [Euclidean rhythm](/source/Euclidean_rhythm)

- [Sudanese music](/source/Sudanese_music)

- [Ewe music](/source/Ewe_music)

- [Xenochrony](/source/Xenochrony)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fingertips_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fingertips_1-1) Slenczynska (1976). *Music At Your Fingertips: Advice For The Artist And Amateur On Playing The Piano*, p. 43. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-306-80034-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-306-80034-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *New Harvard Dictionary of Music* (1986: 646). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Novotney, Eugene D. (1998: 265). [*The 3:2 Relationship as the Foundation of Timelines in West African Musics*](https://web.archive.org/web/20100906094730/http://www.unlockingclave.com/free-download-32-thesis.html), Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Walker, A. (2018, p. 325), Fryderyk Chopin, a Life and Times. London, Faber.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Swafford, J.](/source/Jan_Swafford) (1997) *Johannes Brahms, a Biography*. London, Macmillan.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Oravitz, M. (2013). ["The human and the physical in Debussy's depictions of snow"](https://doi.org/10.7202%2F1016198ar). *Les Cahiers de la Société québécoise de recherche en musique*. **14** (1): 49–54. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.7202/1016198ar](https://doi.org/10.7202%2F1016198ar).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Schmitz, E.R. (1966, 124) The Piano Works of Claude Debussy. New York, Dover.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Walker, Ernest (1905: 79) *The Music of the Masters; Beethoven*. New York: Brentano's Union Square.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Kennedy, M. and Bourne, J. (eds) (2007) *The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music*, Oxford University Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Da Fonseca-Wollheim, C. (2018), "Does Brahms’s Obsession With Rhythmic Instability Explain His Music’s Magic?" *New York Times*, 19 October.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPeñalosa200921_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPeñalosa200921_11-1) [Peñalosa 2009](#CITEREFPeñalosa2009), p. 21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Ladzekpo, C.K. (1995: webpage). ["The Myth of Cross-Rhythm"](https://home.comcast.net/~dzinyaladzekpo/Myth.html), *Foundation Course in African Dance-Drumming*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Novotney, Eugene D. (1998). *The Three Against Two Relationship as the Foundation of Timelines in West African Musics* Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Agawu, Kofi (2003: 92). *Representing African Music: Postcolonial Notes, Queries, Positions New York: Routledge*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-415-94390-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-415-94390-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPeñalosa200922_15-0)** [Peñalosa 2009](#CITEREFPeñalosa2009), p. 22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPeñalosa200935_16-0)** [Peñalosa 2009](#CITEREFPeñalosa2009), p. 35.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Alves2013_17-0)** William Alves (12 April 2013). [*Music of the Peoples of the World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6fkJAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA63). Cengage Learning. p. 63. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-133-71230-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-133-71230-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** The Gravikord web site : [http://www.gravikord.com/instrument.html#gravikord](http://www.gravikord.com/instrument.html#gravikord)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** "Afro Blue", *Afro Roots* (Mongo Santamaria) Prestige CD 24018-2 (1959).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Conor Guilfoyle [demonstrates](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEAyWsTLrYY) **3** **4** swing.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** "Afro Blue", *Impressions* (John Coltrane) Pablo CD (1963).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** John Coltrane performs "Afro Blue" with Elvin Jones on drums. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olOYynQ-_Hw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olOYynQ-_Hw)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Hartmann, Graham (25 March 2019). ["Gojira's Mario Duplantier"](https://loudwire.com/10-times-mario-duplantier-best-drummer-on-earth/). *[Loudwire](/source/Loudwire)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201108002340/https://loudwire.com/10-times-mario-duplantier-best-drummer-on-earth/) from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Thomas, Margaret. "Nancarrow's 'Temporal Dissonance': Issues of Tempo Proportions, Metric Synchrony, and Rhythmic Strategies". Intégral 14/15 (2000–2001): p. 138.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Rock Meets Classical, Part 6: Analyzing Discipline – Art Rock Tendencies"](http://www.brutalprog.com/artrocktendencies/article/rock-meets-classical-part-6-analyzing-discipline). Retrieved 22 February 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** LG. ["Queen – Royal Legend"](http://queen.musichall.cz/index_en.php?s=sa&d=rhythm). Retrieved 22 February 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Olwell, Greg. "BP Recommends: Talking Heads – Talking Heads Brick'". Bass Player 17:2 (February 2006): 73.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** marco1601 (25 July 2010). ["Carbon Based Lifeforms – Interloper – 10 Polyrytmi"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eyg3QydFhE). [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/9eyg3QydFhE) from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2017 – via YouTube.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Release group "ポリリズム" by Perfume - MusicBrainz"](http://musicbrainz.org/release-group/561396aa-eca7-339b-aef0-aaabb5003911).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Pellerin, Adrien (2011). *Britney Spears is using Tuplets?* [http://adrienpellerin.tumblr.com/post/6274133096/britney-spears-is-using-tuplets](https://adrienpellerin.tumblr.com/post/6274133096/britney-spears-is-using-tuplets).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["The National's Bryce Dessner Explains The Four-Over-Three Polyrhythm Of "Fake Empire""](http://www.stereogum.com/1688121/the-nationals-bryce-dessner-explains-the-four-over-three-polyrhythm-of-fake-empire/mp3s/). 20 June 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Weiner, Jonah. ["Joanna Newsom on Andy Samberg, Stalkers and Latest Harp-Fueled Opus"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/joanna-newsom-on-andy-samberg-stalkers-and-latest-harp-fueled-opus-51062/). Retrieved 4 December 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** Sep 2007. *Guitar World*, p.102. Vol. 28, No. 9. ISSN 1045-6295.

**Sources**

- Peñalosa, David (2009). *The Clave Matrix; Afro-Cuban Rhythm: Its Principles and African Origins*. Redway, California: Bembe. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781886502802](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781886502802).

## Further reading

- [Peter Magadini](/source/Peter_Magadini) (1993). *Polyrhythms for the Drumset*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-89724-821-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89724-821-1). [Study in polymetric independence for drummers.]

- [Peter Magadini](/source/Peter_Magadini) (2001). *[The Musician's Guide to Polyrhythms](/source/The_Musician's_Guide_to_Polyrhythms)*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-63403-283-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-63403-283-7). [Polyrhythm reference book.]

## External links

- [Superimposed Subdivisions (Polyrhythm Hell)](http://onlinedrummer.com/pdf.php?Id=135) – An article by Heikki Malmberg

- C.K. Ladzekpo's [Foundation Course in African Dance-Drumming](http://www.cnmat.berkeley.edu/~ladzekpo/PrinciplesFr.html)

- [Novotney, Eugene D. (1998) "The Three Against Two Relationship as the Foundation of Timelines in West African Musics", PhD thesis. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois.](https://web.archive.org/web/20110202130133/http://www.unlockingclave.com/)

- [African Music Encyclopedia: Babatunde Olatunji](http://africanmusic.org/artists/olatunji.html)

- ["Africano, the mother of groove"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051216110124/http://www.lagbaja.com/africano.htm), an article on polyrhythms and the African drumming tradition

- [Tempo Mental](https://web.archive.org/web/20041016215443/http://vai.com/LittleBlackDots/tempomental.html) – Article by Steve Vai on polyrhythms

- [Drums Database](http://www.drumsdatabase.com/drums-polyrhythms.htm)- More polyrhythms

- [polyPulse](http://www.flexatone.net/athenaPolyPulse.html) An athenaCL netTool for on-line, web-based MIDI polyrhythm generation

- [polygnome](https://gitlab.com/tmatth/polygnome) A polyrhythmic metronome application for Linux

- [Polyrhythm experiments using Improvisor and AudioCubes](http://www.percussa.com/2011/06/18/polyrhythm-experiments-using-audiocubes/)

- [polymath](http://www.panix.com/~jens/polymath.par) Another on-line, web-based MIDI polyrhythm generation tool which uses symbolic input

- [Polyrhythm Lessons](http://www.wholenote.com/cgi-bin/page_view.pl?l=11432&p=1)- Information on applying polyrhythms on the guitar

- [How many tuplets](http://t-tt-t-tt-sss.blogspot.com/2007/10/hom-many-tuplets.html)- Post on triplets and duplets in West African music

- [Metronome for Rhythms and Multi-Beat Polyrhythms](http://bouncemetronome.com/audio/downloadable-audio-clips/audio-clips-polyrhythms) Audio clips of many polyrhythms

- [How to Play Polyrhythms – Videos](http://www.bouncemetronome.com/videos-for-polyrhythms.htm) Video clips of many polyrhythms like the ones used to illustrate this article

- [4 different time signatures polymeter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG92aH3vYak), example of 4 layer time signatures (2:4, 3:8, 5:16 & 7:8) played by Denny AJD simultaneously on a drumset.

- [Polyrhythms ...an Introduction Peter Magadini](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn7YtjO6Mqc) via YouTube

- [Drum Solo with Metric Modulations – Peter Magadini (2006) from the Hal Leonard DVD *Jazz Drums*](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150135717521264&comment_id=10152621680461264&offset=0&total_comments=21)

- [The 26 Official Polyrhythm Rudiments (2012) *Modern Drummer Magazine*](https://web.archive.org/web/20150419050734/http://www.vicfirth.com/exchange/2013/07/10/the-official-26-polyrhythm-rudiments-by-peter-magadini/) – Pete Magadini

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Polyrhythm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhythm) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhythm?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.