AP Music Theory Unit 1 - Rhythmic Patterns

Meter

Specific pattern create regularized rhythm

Foot

Basic unit in scansion or measurement of verse

Foot Typically Contains?

1 accented and 1 or 2 unaccented syllables

Lambs (lambic)

Two syllable foot with the accent falling on second syllable

Trochee (Trochaic)

Syllable foot with accent falling on the first syllable

Anapest (Anapestic)

Three syllable foot consisiting of two unaccented syllables followed by an accented syllable

Dactyl (Dactylic)

Three syllable foot consisting of one accented syllable followed by two unaccented syllables

Spondee (Spondaic)

two syllable foot with both syllables accented

Pyrrhic

Two syllables that are equally or almost equally unaccented

Monometer

verse of line consisting of 1 foot

Dimeter

Verse of line consisting of 2 feet

Trimeter

Verse of line consisting of 3 feet

Tetrameter

Verse of line consisting of 4 feet

Pentameter

Verse of line consisting of 5 feet

Hexameter

Verse of line consisting of 6 feet

Heptameter

Verse of line consisting of 7 feet

Octometer

Verse of line consisting of 8 feet