AP Music Theory Chapter 2: Rhythm, Meter, and Notation

Rhythm

The flow of music through time; a series of durations of sounds and silences.

Duration

The length of time a sound or silence lasts.

Beat

A regular, recurring pulsation that divides music into units of time.

Meter

The organization of beats into regular groups.

Subdivision

The division of the beat into two or three equal parts.

Tempo

The speed of the beat.

Rhythmic notation

Shows relationships of duration rather than exact clock time.

Note-value hierarchy

Each note value is typically twice the duration of the next smaller value.

Common note values

Double whole, whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and thirty-second notes.

Rests

Rests have equivalent durational values to notes.

Dot

Adds half of the original note or rest value.

Double dot

Adds half of the original value, then half the value of the first dot.

Tie

Connects two or more notes of the same pitch so they sound as one combined duration.

Duple meter

2 beats per measure; strong-weak.

Triple meter

3 beats per measure; strong-weak-weak.

Quadruple meter

4 beats per measure; strong-weak-less strong-weak.

Simple meter

The beat divides equally into TWO parts.

Compound meter

The beat divides equally into THREE parts; the beat is normally a dotted note.

Simple meter top numbers

2, 3, or 4.

Compound meter top numbers

6, 9, or 12.

Triplet

Divides a beat normally divided in two into THREE equal parts; usually marked with the number 3.

Duplet

Divides a beat normally divided in three into TWO equal parts; usually marked with the number 2.

Downbeat

The first beat of a measure.

Upbeat

A weak beat that may precede the downbeat.

Anacrusis / pickup

One or more notes before the first complete measure.

Syncopation

Displaces the expected strong beat.

Hemiola

A special type of syncopation in triple meter where the beat is temporarily regrouped into twos.

Cross rhythm

Occurs when rhythmic layers conflict, such as three notes against two.