Rhythm Tips for Identifying Music Genres by Ear
Can you identify the genre of any song just by listening to it? This is a great skill to develop, and it’s a fun one to train your ears for! Find out how.
The Tempo of a piece of music determines the speed at which it is played, and is measured in beats per minute (BPM). The ‘beat’ is determined by the time signature of the piece, so 100 BPM in 4/4 equates to 100 quarter notes in one minute.
Developing a solid appreciation of tempo is essential for the performing musician – after all we can’t always rely on a conductor or a metronome to keep us on track!
Tempo markings in music can do more than tell the performer the rate at which to play. The Italian words used in classical scores prior to the invention of the metronome such as “Allegro” not only indicate the speed at which the piece should be played but also provide a clue to the musical feel the composer intended.
Tempo is so critical to the mood of a piece that many genres (especially within electronic and dance music) are actually defined by their signature tempo. It simply wouldn’t be possible to have a 160 BPM Power Ballad or a 80 BPM Drum’n’Bass track!
The ability to launch into a piece at the correct tempo and maintain it throughout a performance without a metronome is a valuable skill for all musicians and is particularly essential for drummers. Poor tempo judgement can often be the tell-tale sign of an inexperienced musician, for example by slowing down when approaching a difficult passage and then speeding up again in easier sections.
Many rock musicians discover their weak grasp of tempo the first time they get into the recording studio, finding they are unable to play accurately to the click track. The dreaded “Red light fever” results!
Ear training can improve your ability to appreciate and reproduce tempos consistency allowing you to:
Watch a short video introducing the music theory behind tempo:
Can you identify the genre of any song just by listening to it? This is a great skill to develop, and it’s a fun one to train your ears for! Find out how.
It can be easy to loose rhythmic accuracy during tempo and style transitions. Get some tips to help you keep the beat and practice with these exercises.
Find out 3 reasons why musicians struggle with rhythmic accuracy, then learn the 5 ways you can improve and practice with a rhythmic accuracy exercise.
Clapping in time might seem like child’s play, but actually demonstrates your inner sense of rhythm. Learn more about clapping in time and musicality.
Rhythm is an often-overlooked area of ear training but you can sharpen up your sense of rhythm with exercises and habits like these.
The time signature determines how the beat of a song works. But how do you know which time signature is being used or how to choose one yourself? Find out here.
Lake Street Dive’s cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” slows it down to half the speed while retaining all the soul (and bassline!) of the original.
Learn about a new method for improving your rhythm and maintaining a consistent tempo in book “Beyond the Metronome” from the founder of Inchronicity.com.
Drummer Joe Crabtree applies his creativity and discipline to the PolyNome app: the continual re-invention of the metronome into a mindblowing musical tool.
A poorly-played note well placed is better than a well-played note placed poorly. Learn more about the Inchronicity method for improving your rhythm.
Struggling with improvising music? Don’t miss these 12 tips for musicians of all levels of improvisation, and start your journey to musical freedom today.