Hey you guys! I’m so excited for today’s video. This is a theory factory video. If you haven’t seen my first one, be sure to check it out. We talk all about dynamics and it’s really fun!
Today we are talking about rhythm and beat, what the differences are, and examples in some songs. To put it simply, rhythm is the music pattern and beat is the steady pulse. So I’m going to show you two songs. I want you to clap and sing along with me, that way you can sort of experience the difference between what rhythm and beat are.
The first example I’m going to sing is “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. I’m going to clap the beat, but I’m going to sing the rhythm. So here we go. Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Awesome! So the beat was that steady pulse. And the rhythm was -. So basically a simple way to remember the difference between rhythm and beat is that steady pulse. It’s totally constant, but rhythm is the pattern or where the words go. Where they line up with that beat. Okay? So let me show you another example that might be a little bit trickier.
Okay I will be singing one of my favorite Disney songs, “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. I’m just going to be singing a little excerpt of it. Okay here we go. Look at this stuff. Isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete? Wouldn’t you think I’m a girl, a girl who has everything? Okay do you hear how that’s a little bit trickier? So I’m singing, Look at this stuff? Isn’t it neat? That’s the rhythm that I’m singing, but the beat is constant. Look at this stuff? Isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete? Do you see how that beat just keeps on staying consistent?
It’s important for us to learn rhythm and beat because that is a huge foundation for learning. Pretty soon we’ll talk about notes and measures, but I really wanted to focus on rhythm and beat so that you knew the difference and so that you can start listening and hearing this in songs. So my challenge to you is to listen to the radio, listen to your favorite song, and clap along with the beat and sing the rhythm. You’ll hear it in every song that you sing. There’s always a rhythm and there’s always a beat.
I hope you enjoyed this video. I know it was a really short one, but it’s really important for us to know these little basic things in music. It just makes us stronger and makes us have more knowledge about music and theory. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! Make sure to like this video and we’ll see you in our next one.
I do these videos every other week, but if you still want more musical theatre, check out my newsletter! It’s called “Beyond The Score”, and it just takes a closer look at musical theatre history. You can find that at jskstories.com.