Music Theory for Songwriters: Rhythm

Improve your songwriting process by factoring for rhythm and building rhythm. Explore note values, time signatures, feel, timing, dynamics, syncopation, and more.

Introduction

• Welcome

1. Rhythm and Note Values

• What is rhythm and what are beats?
• Notes, measures, and counting
• Rhythm and drum set notation
• Simple rhythm examples
• Tempo and note lengths
• Using subdivisions to build rhythm
• Rests
• Rhythm examples with rests
• Triplets and duplets
• Dots and ties
• Rhythm examples

2. Time Signatures

• Common time and 3/4 time
• Simple and compound time signatures
• Odd time signatures
• Choosing a time signature for your song
• Double time and half time

3. Feel and Timing

• Dynamics
• Accents and articulations
• Tempo and tempo changes
• Ahead of, on, or behind the beat
• Swing
• Syncopation and off beats
• Polyrhythms (two rhythms at once)

Conclusion

• Next steps