How to practice polyrhythms with the Soundbrenner metronome

Many musicians often find polyrhythms confusing and intimidating. Practicing them can be quite challenging, especially when using traditional mechanical metronomes that lack customization options. Fortunately, our app, The Metronome by Soundbrenner, offers a quick and easy method to set up for polyrhythmic practice. If you don't have it yet, you can download it for free on both iOS and Android.

Want to try this while you read? Open our free online metronome in a new tab and practice along right in your browser.

Our mobile app does not have a dedicated polyrhythm function. However, you can customize your time signatures, accents, and subdivisions, making it easier to play multiple rhythms concurrently. This method is also a great way for beginners to visualize and understand polyrhythms.

This article will serve as an introduction to polyrhythms and a tutorial on how to practice them using the Soundbrenner Metronome app.

What is a polyrhythm?

First, let’s quickly define what a polyrhythm is. Simply put, a polyrhythm consists of two or more contrasting rhythms played simultaneously. It is rare to encounter a polyrhythm that uses more than two rhythms, so we will focus on polyrhythms with only two rhythms.

Polyrhythms are expressed in the format X:Y, where X is the number of beats per bar for rhythm 1 and Y is the number of beats per bar for rhythm 2. Y is usually the prevailing rhythm, while X is the rhythm that is superimposed on top of it.

For example, a 2:3 polyrhythm means that one rhythm plays three beats per bar while the other rhythm plays two beats per bar. This rhythm is commonly referred to as “two against three.”

Note: Many people confuse polyrhythms with polymeters. They are not the same. Polyrhythms are two separate rhythms layered on top of one another in the same time signature. A polymeter occurs when different instruments play different time signatures at the same tempo, creating an effect where they are both in sync and out of sync simultaneously.

Formation of polyrhythms

A polyrhythm can only be created if Y is not a common multiple of X, or vice versa. For example, you cannot have a 2:4 polyrhythm because the second rhythm perfectly subdivides into the first rhythm. This is similar to when one bar of 4 is equivalent to two bars of 2.

Therefore, polyrhythms are only possible when the two rhythms do not have any common factors other than 1.

First, let's take a look at a 2:3 polyrhythm.

To understand how this works, we need to determine how the rhythms line up with one another. This is where subdivisions come into play. Since 3 is not perfectly divisible by 2 and 2 is not perfectly divisible by 3, we need to subdivide the two rhythms so they can be played together concurrently.

This can be done by multiplying X and Y. This results in Z, a common multiple of both X and Y. In our example of the 2:3 polyrhythm, Z would be 6 since:

2 x 3 = 6.

Now that we have done this, we can easily visualize our polyrhythm. This will allow us to see how X and Y line up when placed in a bar with 6 subdivisions.

The chart above shows one bar split into 6 equally spaced beats (the common multiple of 3 and 2). Each cross represents a beat from its respective rhythm.

We can see that although the rhythms are different, they both line up on the 1 and play together every time the bar repeats.

Practicing polyrhythms

To practice this polyrhythm, open the Soundbrenner app and set a time signature of 6/4, with an accent on the 1. The 6/4 time signature ensures that we hear 6 distinct beats, while the accent indicates when the polyrhythm repeats.

Assuming we are practicing on a practice pad or snare drum, the right hand will play rhythm 1 and the left hand will play rhythm 2. The right hand will play on every 1st and 4th beat, while the left hand will play on every 1st, 3rd, and 5th beat.

Let’s go through another example. Suppose we want to play a 3:4 polyrhythm, where rhythm 1 plays 3 beats per bar and rhythm 2 plays 4 beats per bar.

Again, since 3 and 4 do not divide into each other, we multiply them together to find a common multiple of 12.

Using the chart visualization method, we can see how to play this polyrhythm when each bar is subdivided into 12 counts. The right hand plays on every 1st, 5th, and 9th count, while the left hand plays on every 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th count. Again, the only time both hands play together is on the 1st beat of every bar.

When practicing, ensure that every note is played together with a click from the metronome. There should be no notes played during the off-beats. The purpose of subdividing the polyrhythm into a common multiple is to hear exactly when to play each note, which is easier than approximating based on your internal clock.

Wrapping up

If you are having trouble with the auditory click track and prefer to feel the beat, try practicing with the Soundbrenner Pulse or Core 2 instead. The Pulse syncs seamlessly with our mobile app via Bluetooth. You can use the app to set up your time signatures, accents, and subdivisions as shown above. The Core's tempo, time signature, subdivisions, and accents can all be customized directly from the watch face without needing to connect to the app.

You now have all the information you need to start playing polyrhythms. Be sure to experiment with different rhythms, not just the ones demonstrated in this article. Remember that mastering polyrhythms takes time and practice. Incorporate them into your daily routine to train your muscle memory, and don't forget to practice with a metronome!