Rhythmic unit.html



A rhythmic unit is a durational pattern which occupies a period of time equivalent to a pulse or pulses on an underlying metric level, as opposed to a rhythmic gesture. Rhythmic units may be classified as:

• Metric

even-note patterns, such as steady eighth notes or pulses.

• Intrametric

confirming patterns, such as dotted eighth-sixteenth note and swing patterns.

• Contrametric

non-confirming, or syncopated patterns.

• Extrametric

irregular patterns, such as tuplets.

(DeLone et al. (Eds.), 1975, chap. 3)

References

• DeLone et al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-049346-5.