Comments on: Introduction to Polyrhythms

By: brownsound44

brownsound44 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:26:15 +0000

“We set the grid resolution to be equal to (or a multiple of) the length of one complete cycle. In the case of the 3/2 polyrhythm, I used a grid resolution of twelve”

Pardon my ignorance, but how exactly does one change the grid resolution on the piano roll editor in logic?

By: Philippine Outsourcing

Philippine Outsourcing — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:27:50 +0000

Interesting post here… thanks for sharing. Nice video sample showing the use of polyrhythm too. I also do video editing and this post has just sparked some interesting ideas that I would like to try on some of my videos. =)

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:05:06 +0000

That’s a great introduction into polyrhythm. Very helpful, thanks.

By: Ryan Leach

Ryan Leach — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:21:52 +0000

Really nice introduction, thanks West. I’m not ashamed to admit that I love J-Pop, thanks for sharing that video!

By: Locke

Locke — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:43:36 +0000

Great tutorial!

I also very much enjoyed Ryan Leach’s tuts, so I was particularly interested in the last two examples. I have a hard time figuring out the rhythmic patterns, though.

Is it possible for you to post a graphic representation of the lead and bass ostinato lines in the piano roll?

Also, nice video… very cute… and catchy tune!…

By: peter jaques

peter jaques — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:35:31 +0000

[sorry, somehow that posted when i wasn't done]

There’s a whole realm of more complex time signatures, for instance what you’ll find all across the traditional music of the Balkans & Turkey. The polyrhythms you described still kept an underlying 4 beat, but there’s a whole world of rhythm once you step out of that box.

For example, the funkiest & perhaps most common rhythm in Turkey is a 9/8. Here’s an example on Youtube of the great clarinetist Selim Sesler (though the poster said it was a different master) playing a slow 9:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lT3ZnfMRw4

~peter in oakland, california

By: peter jaques

peter jaques — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:29:32 +0000

There’s a whole realm of more complex time signatures, for instance what you’ll find all across the traditional music of the Balkans.

By: Björgvin

Björgvin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:09:47 +0000

I use drumloops a lot(recorded acoustic drums, not “techno” beats) because it’s very time consuming to record drums. But to get a livelier feel and a little bit of rhythm interest I have a lot of percussion playing friends that are easy to mike up and get to play over a loop that doesn’t change.

It’s not really poly rhythm although a straight four drumbeat can sound very differently if you have someone jamming a funky rhythm on a Spanish Cajón under it.

By: Björgvin

Björgvin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:02:14 +0000

Ahhh ok. My career in sound is not over yet then….thanks.

By: Deems

Deems — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:49:59 +0000

Good start on poly rhythms. But I hope there will be expansion on the subject.