Rhythm Vocabulary

These elements of vocabulary are intended as supplemental information for Rhythm Arise students. They are frameworks for learning, understanding and embodying rhythm in it’s many varieties. The names are convenient ways to refer to rhythmic structures and should not be mistaken as authoritative labels for material found in any musical tradition. These structures are frameworks indicating pillars of grooves, Any suggested voicing should be understood as one of many possible approaches to voicing – and any and all voicing combinations should be explored. All beginners should assume that any box without a letter is a ghost note and any box that is a ghost note CAN be an accent or voice. The aim is to use these as frameworks, but rhythm is a flow of time and we want to be able to flow from any structure TO any structure rather than approaching this vocabulary from the perspective of rigid replication. 

8 and 16 box  patterns

3,3,2 (tresillo)

D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a
x x x

 

3,2,3

D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a
x x x

 

2,3,3

D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a
x x x

 

2,3,3 Passport

D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a
b l l h h

 

3,3,2 Passport

D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a
b l b h

 

Upbeat Passport

D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a
l l h h

 

Binary Groove

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
B T B T

 

Binary Groove & Floating Accent

 In each of the boxes where you see an X, replace it with each of the voices you know how to play. Repeat enough times that you hear how the subsitution changes the music.

 

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
B X T B T
B X T B T
B X T B T
B T X B T
B T X B T
B T X B T
B T B X T
B T B X T
B T B X T
B T B T X
B T B T X
B T B T X

 

Gravity Grooves

 This is a series of variations intented to be sparse and strongly state the gravity of the cycle. Especially useful for basses and bass drums

 

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
B
B B
B B B
B B
B B B

 

Quarter note exercise

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x

 

3/2 Clave

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x

 

2/3 Clave

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x

 

Brazilian Clave (Bossa Nova Stick Pattern)

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x

 

Rumba Clave

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x

 

7/9

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x x x

 

cascara

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x x x x x x

 

cicada

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
x x x x x x x x x x

 

Fanga

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
B l l h h B B h h

 

Baladi

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
B B l l l B l l l h h

 

Tumbao

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
S l l s b b l l

 

montuno

D N D N D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
b h b h b h b b h

 

6 and 12 box patterns

Pulses

D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 &

 

2/3 Clave

D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 &
x x x x x

 

3/2 Clave Bell Pattern

D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 &
x x x x x x x

 

4×3 – passport variations

Notice how in these variations, the low tone is similar to a floating accent

D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 &
h l h h l h
h l h h l h
h h l h h l
h h l h h l
h l l h h l l h
h h l l h h l l
h l h l h l h l
h l h l h l h l

 

3×2 – passport variations

Notice how in these variations, the low tone is similar to a floating accent

D N D N D N D N D N D N
1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 &
l l l l
l l l l
l l l l l l
l l h l l h