Rhythm in Practice

Understanding rhythm changes how you hear music. Next time you listen to a song, try counting the beats — tap along and notice where the emphasis falls. Most pop songs ride a steady four-count, but pay attention to how the drummer plays around that grid.

Polyrhythm is everywhere once you start listening for it. Tap a steady beat with one hand and a pattern of three with the other; that tension between two and three drives everything from Afrobeat to prog rock. Musicians spend years mastering this independence between limbs.

The best part is that rhythm needs no equipment. Your body is the instrument — clapping, stomping, and snapping along are all you need to start.