elements that are repeated periodically in a 1 rhythm: a form of alternation of a series of elements determined interval of time. bossa nova rhythm:
2 pulse: basic unit of rhythm measurement.
3 beat: one part of a steady pulse.
normally, in 4/4, pulse and beat are the same. the pulse may also be the accented beat of a measure.
4 tempo: speed of the musical piece. q: 90 (90 quarter notes per minute). 5 measure/bar: organization of the beats in groups. time signature: 4/4: 4 quarter notes in each bar.
4/4 is the most used time signature in jazz because it´s not as closed as 2/4 and 3/4 and allows more rhythmic variations inside the bar.
6 metric accent: emphasis on certain beats created by the natural meter and rhythm of the music. 1
2
3
4
strong / weak / semi-strong / weak
7 down beat: first beat of the bar. up beat: last beat of the bar. on beat: beats 1 and 3 of the bar. off beat: beats 2 and 4 of the bar. modern music styles stress beats 2 and 4 of the bar. down beat on beat on beat 1 2 3 4
a
b
1
up beat off beat off beat 2 3 4
-1-
introduction to jazz rhythm and articulation - 2/3 8 syncopation: note starting on the weak part of the bar or beat and extending over the strong part, producing a rhythmic displacement of the strong parts to the weak parts of the bar. syncopation
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
syncopated rhythms come from the african american music and are one of the most important characteristics of jazz, harmony and melody come from the classical european music.
9 swing is the interpretation of the eighth notes with a triplet, where the first two eighth notes are tied and the third eighth note is accentuated on a place not exactly defined that depends on the interpreter. swing is played with a triplet feel.
a du daht
du daht
swing feel:
3
3
syncopation
b
du dah
du dah
3
3
10 in music, articulation means giving a different intention to each note, in duration as well as in intensity, and how to relate each note to the next note or group of notes. over one note there may be a dynamic accent (attack and volume), over a group of notes there may be an interruption or continuity between them. tenuto
du
staccato
horizontal accent
vertical accent
vertical accent with staccato
duht
dah
daht
dot
different combinations of articulations determine different rhythmic perceptions.
introduction to jazz rhythm and articulation - 3/3 11
phrasing is the grouping of the elements in different places of the bar. forward motion is the rhythmic perception obtained grouping elements in an arch that goes from the weak parts of the bar to the strong parts of the bar.
12
the interpreter can accelerate or delay the interpretation in relation to the beat. ahead of the beat
on the beat
behind the beat
1
13
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
ghost notes are suggested notes, with rhythmic value and undetermined pitch. ghost note
dud-n du daht
14
dud-n dud-n du
dud-n dud-n dud-n du
dynamics are variations of the volume of each note and of the melodic line. mf
pp mp
f
dahd-n mf
15
du daht
f
the intention with which each note is played determines the authentic jazz sound.
mp
f
mp
f
mp
-3-
jazz language : syncopation
syncopation: note starting on the weak part of the bar or beat and extending over the strong part, producing a rhythmic displacement of the strong parts to the weak parts of the bar or beat.
1
a
44
2
3
4
syncopation
strong / weak / semi-strong / weak
1
weak
a
weak
syncopation
b
4 4
syncopation
weak
2
a
syncopation
b
4 4
weak
3
a
syncopation
b
4 4
weak
4
a
b
4 4
5
syncopation syncopation
weak
a
weak
syncopation
b
44
weak
triplet
6
a
b 3
44 weak
syncopation 3
weak
weak
-4-
jazz language: articulations in music, articulation means to give a different intention in duration and intensity to each note and how to relate it to the next note note or group of notes. over the same note we talk about accent and volume, and over a group of notes, of interruption or continuity among them.
1
types of articulations tenuto legato tongue hold full value
2 interpretation in relation to the beat the interpretation can be delayed playing behind the beat or accelerated accelerated playing ahead of the beat.