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Tempo, metre and rhythm - EdexcelSimple and compound time

Tempo, metre and rhythm are vital in all forms of music. Tempo is the underlying beat of the music. Metre is the organisation of rhythms into certain regular patterns. Rhythm is the organisation of particular sounds by their length. Without tempo, metre and rhythm, music would be disorganised and chaotic.

Part of MusicMusic theory

Simple and compound time

Common rhythms in compound time

6/8, 9/8 and 12/8 are examples of compound time.

In compound time, each beat is a dotted note.

Although 6/8 time has six quaver beats in the bar, the beat is given by two dotted crotchets. The video shows the speed of the quaver beat then the speed of the dotted crotchet beat. The dotted crotchet beats are on quavers one and four. The clip then shows some common rhythms as examples of 6/8 time. It takes a specific look at music written in 6/8 time, including tunes by Alicia Keys and Queen.

Compound time and how it differs to simple time

Question

In compound time, how is a beat split up?

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Rhythmic devices
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Dotted rhythms

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