Advanced Compound Rhythms

Review

Compound Meter Each beat is divided into three equal parts instead of two. Also called Compound Time.

Most compound meters have an 8 in the bottom. In compound meter the eighth note is the subdivision of the beat and the dotted quarter receives the beat.

Beat

play_circle  𝅘𝅥.   𝅘𝅥.   𝄂

Subdivision

play_circle    𝄂

The most common compound time signatures are:   

For more review on Compound Time see Understanding Compound Meter.

Examples of Advanced Compound Meter Rhythms

Below are a few examples of rhythms in Compound Time. If you are struggling to follow any of these rhythms, you may find it helpful to count (feel) the eighth notes rather than the dotted quarter.

Compound Rhythms with Eighths and Sixteenths

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

Compound Rhythms with Syncopation

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

play_circle    𝄂

Compound Rhythms with Rests

play_circle  𝄾 𝅘𝅥 𝄾 𝅘𝅥 𝄂

play_circle  𝄾  𝄾  𝄂

play_circle   𝄾   𝄾  𝄂

play_circle  𝄿 𝄿 𝄂

play_circle  𝄿 𝄿 𝄂

play_circle   𝄾   𝄾  𝄂

Compound Rhythms with Dotted Eighths

play_circle  . . 𝄂

play_circle  . . 𝄂

play_circle  . . 𝄂

play_circle  .. .. 𝄂

Notice how the last of the dotted-eighth rhythm examples divides the beat into two equal parts.

Compound Rhythms with Ties

play_circle   𝄂

play_circle   𝄂

play_circle   𝄂

Return to Writing Music Identifying Eighth, Dotted Eighths, and 16ths