technical resources on rhythm?

DK
Wed, 14 Jan 1998 05:27:01 -0500

Well......depends what you ultimately want to do. Is your primary goal to
attain a thorough analytical understanding of the complexities of rhythm
and polyrhythm in a linear and mathematical fashion......or is it to make
music? If you're the analytical type by nature (most musicians are to a
degree, IMO), you'll attain a certain degree of analytical understanding no
matter how you approach it. But at the end of the day, you need to decide
if you're more interested in what it's all about, or in what it sounds
like. (gee.....which way do you think I'm leaning.....? <g>) Get some
books, take some workshops, to be sure....these things are invaluable for
exposing new possibilities, as well as putting names on things to
facilitate creativity and communication with other players. But if you
don't use your ears, the rest is pointless....LISTEN to what other people
are doing....(radio?record stores?websites (do a search for types of music
or beats, go there and have a listen)....allow your brain to assimilate it
all and formulate something new out of all those influences....(Salvador
Dali said, "he who is afraid to imitate creates nothing")....learning the
theories is helpful and important, but nowhere near as important as getting
in there and doing it, crating and making it yer own.

>Message text written by Jim Nielson
>I used to toy with the idea of being a composer and I took a few music
theory courses when I was at university, so I know something about
traditional Western music.

Now I've bought a little 4-track recorder and I have Cakewalk for Windows
to do midi programming with and a lowend Yamaha keyboard and a mike, etc.
and I'd like to play around with some music again.

My problem, to make a short story long, is that I don't really know
anything about the theory of rhythm and percussion. I realize you don't get
a hip beat by using algebra, but I'd be interested in any web-based,
software-based, or hardcopy resources anyone knows about that would help me
get up to speed on various kinds of rhythms and beats and what "defines"
them, if I may put it that way. Like typical drum patterns in salsa or
metronome settings for a rhumba or whatever. Definitions of breakbeats,
defining characteristics of samba, samples or settings for hard bop drum
technique, whatever. I'm a complete beginner at the theory of drums'n'bass:
are there places I could begin, or would you recommend I just experiment
around till I find beats I like and not worry about what they are?

This may seem like a naive question--I remember a similar one that started
a thread about tempos to use as a DJ where everyone said "man, use your
ears and your boodie, not your brain"--but I'd still be curious to know
what technical resources are available out there.

Thanks in advance for keeping the flames low ,-)

jimX

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