rhythm

• Simple time


  Music with 2, 3 or 4 beats in the bar.

  Each beat is usually 1 crotchet
• Compound time


  Each beat is divided into groups of 3 pulses 6/8, 9/8, 12/8
• On the beat


  The main accents are on the beat
• Off the beat 


  The main accents are on the weak beat or against the beat
• Syncopation


  Accented notes playing off or against the beat
• Scotch snap 


  A rhythmic figure with a short accented note followed by a longer note. Mostly found in a Strathspey
• Cross rhythm 


  Effect where 2 notes are played against 3
• Dotted rhythms 


  Longs notes followed by short notes and vice versa giving a jolty effect
• Anacrusis


  Notes which appear before the first strong beat of the bar. Almost like a very short lead-in
• Drum fill


  A rhythmic decoration played on the drumkit
• Beat / pulse


  The basic pulse you hear in music. The pulse may be in groups of 2, 3 or 4 with an accent or stress on the first beat of each bar
• Pause


  The musical flow / rhythm is help up by a long note or silence
• Accent / accented 


  Notes that are slightly stressed sounding louder than others
• March


  Music with a strong steady pulse with 2 or 4 beats in the bar
• Strathspey 


  A Scottish dance with 4 beats in the bar featuring dotted rhythms and a scotch snap
• Reel 


  A fast Scottish dance in simple time with 2 or 4 beats in the bar
• Waltz


  A dance in simple time with 3 beats in the bar
• Jig


  A fast Scottish dance in compound time