How to practice polyrhythms with the Soundbrenner metronome

Many musicians feel confused or intimidated by polyrhythms. Practicing them can be challenging, especially with traditional mechanical metronomes that do not allow for customization. Fortunately, The Metronome by Soundbrenner offers a quick and easy way to set up polyrhythmic practice. If you do not have it yet, you can download it for free on iOS and Android.

Although the mobile app does not have a dedicated polyrhythm function, you can customize time signatures, accents, and subdivisions in a way that makes it easier to practice multiple rhythms at the same time. This method is also a useful way for beginners to visualize and understand polyrhythms.

What is a polyrhythm?

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 this article focuses on polyrhythms with 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, and X is the rhythm superimposed on top of it. For example, a 2:3 polyrhythm, commonly called “two against three,” means one rhythm plays two beats per bar while the other plays three beats per bar.

Note: Many people confuse polyrhythms with polymeters. They are not the same thing. 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 at the same time.

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, so 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.

How to visualize a 2:3 polyrhythm

First, let’s look at a 2:3 polyrhythm. To understand how it works, we need to figure out how the rhythms line up with one another. This is where subdivisions come in.

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. To do this, multiply X and Y. The result, Z, is a common multiple of both X and Y. In a 2:3 polyrhythm, Z is 6 because 2 x 3 = 6.

Now we can visualize the polyrhythm by placing both rhythms inside a bar with 6 equal subdivisions:

• Rhythm 1, with 2 beats per bar, lands on counts 1 and 4.
• Rhythm 2, with 3 beats per bar, lands on counts 1, 3, and 5.

Although the rhythms are different, they both line up on count 1 and play together every time the bar repeats.

How to practice a 2:3 polyrhythm in the Soundbrenner app

To practice this polyrhythm, open the Soundbrenner app and set the time signature to 6/4, with an accent on count 1. The 6/4 time signature lets you hear 6 distinct beats, and the accent helps you hear when the polyrhythm repeats.

If you are practicing on a practice pad or snare drum with your right hand playing rhythm 1 and your left hand playing rhythm 2, then your right hand plays on counts 1 and 4, while your left hand plays on counts 1, 3, and 5.

How to practice a 3:4 polyrhythm

Let’s go through another example. In a 3:4 polyrhythm, rhythm 1 plays 3 beats per bar and rhythm 2 plays 4 beats per bar.

Again, 3 and 4 do not divide evenly into each other, so multiply them together to get a common multiple of 12.

When the bar is divided into 12 equal counts:

• The right hand, playing rhythm 1, plays on counts 1, 5, and 9.
• The left hand, playing rhythm 2, plays on counts 1, 4, 7, and 10.

Again, the only time both hands play together is on count 1 of every bar.

To practice this in the Soundbrenner app, set the time signature to 12/4 with an accent on count 1.

Practice tips

When practicing, make sure every note is played together with a click from the metronome. There should not be any notes played on the off-beats. The purpose of subdividing the polyrhythm into a common multiple is to hear exactly when to play each note instead of approximating it with your internal clock.

If you have trouble practicing with an auditory click track and would prefer to feel the beat, try practicing with the Soundbrenner Pulse or Core. The Pulse syncs seamlessly with the mobile app via Bluetooth, so you can use the app to set up 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 the information you need to start playing polyrhythms. Be sure to experiment with different rhythms, not just the ones demonstrated in this article. Finally, remember that mastering polyrhythms takes time and a lot of practice. Add them to your daily routine to train your muscle memory, and don’t forget to practice with a metronome.