When listening to songs subdivided into simple meter, they sound even and “straight” songs in compound subdivision sound “swung”.ĭUPLE: beat is in groups of 2 (try counting along to a song 1-2 | 1-2 …) To complicate things even more, every beat can be SUBDIVIDED into two equal halves (simple) or three equal thirds (compound). 2-beat measures are in duple meter, 3-beat measures are in triple meter, and 4-beat measures are in quadruple meter. Measures can have any number of beats in them, but most commonly have 2, 3, or 4 beats. Musical phrases are broken down into segments that show rhythmic groupings known as MEASURES. How beats are grouped into small patterns within a larger song. In fact, you should do this for the purpose of this course :) METER You can download free metronome apps to your phone. Tempo is most easily determined by the use of a METRONOME, an analog or digital device that clocks the number of bpms by clicking/tapping at the same speed as the music.

The speed of the beat (slow, medium, fast, etc.).

*NOTE* When someone says “I love the beat of that song” … what they mean is that they love the rhythmic structure/pattern … but what they’re actually saying in musical terminology is that they love how fast or slow it goes … TEMPO The pulse of the music in terms of how fast or slow it flows by (the pulse you tap your foot to while listening to a song)Ħ0 bpm = 1 beat per second - a song at 60 bpm would be considered slowġ20 bpm = 2 beats per second - a song at 120 bpm would be twice as fast as 60, a medium speedĢ40 bpm = 4 beats per second - a song at 240 bpm would be considered very fast

Soft tone music