In music what is rhythm
In music what is rhythm?
Rhythm is created when elements are repeated in a certain pattern. It is around us and within us. In music, rhythm is about timing. As a beginner trying to study music, you may feel that your timing is off. You may assume that you don’t have a sense of rhythm. Due to this, you may even lack the courage and confidence to perform in public or play with other musicians. Some of us may be born with a sense of rhythm. Some of us may not be. If you are one of the latter, don’t get discouraged. You just need to tap the rhythm within you. Here are some exercises that will help you build a sense of rhythm.
Move with the beat
We will start with the most fun exercise. Perform with the music. If you want to dance, then just dance to the beat. By doing this, you will start feeling the rhythm.
Start counting
Play a song that you like and start clapping your hands. You can tap your feet or tap on some surface. Once you start gaining a little confidence, you start counting ‘one, two, three, four,…’ or ‘one, two, three,…’ depending on the time signature. This will help you gain a rhythmic sense.
Use beat dividing
When you get a hang of counting, you can try beat dividing. In this, the regular beat is subdivided. This is a simple and very helpful exercise to perfect your sense of rhythm or timing while playing music. You may be unsure of the space between the regular beats. You can fill the space with subdivided beats. If the regular beat is ‘one, two, three, four,…’ then you can divide it as ‘one and two and three and four and…’ or ‘one and a two and a three and a four and a…’. Beat dividing can help you place your notes correctly. Subdividing the beat can help you figure out complex rhythms too.
Try a metronome or app
Take a song you want to play. Play using a metronome or app. While playing try to tap your internal rhythmic sense.
Practice regularly
Consciously practice! Make sure to practice correctly with a routine. When you know you lack rhythm, you need to dedicate time during your practice session to focus on it and get it right.
Sometimes, when learning music or when learning to play a musical instrument, there may be some segments that we find hard to achieve. The solution is to keep practicing that segment until you perfect it. After practicing for long hours, it is advisable to rest for an adequate amount of time too. This will help you keep your energy levels up.
Record and listen to it
Take your favorite song and record yourself while playing that song. Record it without any metronome or app. Listen to the recording and try to find out if you are going too fast, too slow, or if you are keeping up. Do this consistently during your practice sessions. Make sure the next time you sing and record yourself, you do not make as many mistakes as your previous time. You need to make sure you keep improving.
Try improvising
You don’t always have to memorize the song and play it as is. Pick a song you like and start improvising it by trying new rhythms. Get out of your comfort zone. While listening to composition, try getting into the groove at a random time. By doing this repeatedly, you will be able to get a grasp of the rhythm.
Take help
If you feel you are struggling with rhythm and timing, and if you have not already enrolled in music lessons, then it may be the right time to find a good private music teacher who can help you. Find good music instructors from all around the world at Music4humans.
Rhythm and timing are the basic concepts in music. The above exercises will help you understand it. Once you get your rhythm and timing right, you will start having fun while playing music.
Perfecting this skill is a must. However, it takes a lot of time and a huge amount of quality practice to master it. Some compositions may have intricate and complex rhythms. You may take more time to get a good grasp of these. Take it slow! Learn it at your pace.
These days, you don’t even have to struggle to find good music instructors near you or travel for long hours to get your music lessons. You can learn music from any part of the world in the comfort of your home. At Music4humans, you can learn various music courses from experienced music instructors from all around the world at your convenience. Book a music lesson online today!