Home - Practice Pattern Table of Contents - Lesson 15 Practice Patterns
Practice Suggestions for Learning How to Play Sixteenth Notes in Compound Meter
If you have been studying the previous lessons in this site, you should understand the importance of subdividing the beat. Counting and feeling the subdivisions is essential for the accurate performance of any rhythms that include note values shorter than one beat.
The previous lessons have subdivided the beat into two, three, and four equal sections. The Lesson 15 patterns are the most complicated yet, and subdivide the beat into six equal sections. Read the Lesson 15 Introduction to learn about how to count and subdivide the beat when there are sixteenth notes in compound meter.
Remember: when you are working on a rhythm that includes any notes shorter than one beat, subdivide every beat, not just the beats with the short notes. Subdividing every beat will ensure that you keep the tempo steady and play each note the accurate length.
Use the words and letters “one-p-k-p-d-p-two-p-k-p-d-p” to subdivide the beat. Each syllable is short and percussive, which helps make the subdivisions clear. Begin your practice by counting those syllables slowly with a metronome until the counting becomes effortless.
Using the triple subdivision metronome will help you subdivide these rhythms accurately.
For more practice tips and suggestions, visit the Practice page.
Practice Pattern Table of Contents
Lesson 15 Introduction - learn about sixteenth notes in compound meter
Lesson 15 Practice Patterns Table of Contents
Get the Book
Fundamentals of Rhythm book
If you would like all of this information in book format so that you can put it on your music stand and practice it wherever you go, get The Fundamentals of Rhythm, by Kyle Coughlin. The book includes all of the lesson information and practice exercises found on the website.
Use MetronomeBot for a fun online metronome!
The online metronome that counts the beat, subdivides, and offers encouraging practice tips.
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