Polyrhythms For Dummies

[@joshuaboswell3991]

You had a perfect opportunity to use D(r)ummies.

[@boomullarky]

Thank you so much! I finally understand how to build polyrhythms. I’ve watched countless videos on this and read many articles and text excerpts. This is the best method. So simple. I’m a fingerstyle guitar player. I usually just memorize the sound of the rhythms and try to practice where everything falls in relation to my thumb and fingers. Great way to put the actual counting into practice.

[@maxmallett]

Technically speaking, 2:3 and 3:2 polyrhythms are the exact same. The 2:3 polyrhythm in this video features him playing the 3 on the bass drum (and counting along to it) while playing the 2 on the snare, and the 3:2 is just the reverse of that (playing the 2 on the bass drum and the 3 on the snare). In other words, they sound exactly the same, just with the instruments switched up.

[@parishadnz.6048]

..it's never the same! Niether in speed, nor as possibilities in creating relative subdiviosns.

[@xVDRx]

Absolutely unbelievable breakdown of polyrhythms. As a guitarist who does my own drum programming, this has opened up a whole new dynamic for me to explore. Thank you very much for doing this video. Subscribed!

[@GeoOoo7]

I don't know what to make of this but after watching the video I can say I've been "accidentally" thinking of polyrhythms for quite a few years. By accidentally I mean I didn't know what it was exactly but I had thought of quite a few different little rhythms that I liked because they sounded kinda weird but still somehow complimented each other. My mind is freaking blown. I'm not even a drummer haha

[@thesea6417]

The word you're looking for is 'a conceptual understanding'.

[@vodzdrums]

damnn, this mustt be the tenth video on polyrhythms i watched... but the only one wich i could finally understand! now i can play those damn things hahaha thanks mr sacha!

[@drumken]

Hi! I'm watching this because it came randomly while I was searching for some polyrhythms. Than I realize It's the same channel of the video 'Swing Drumming - Advanced Snare & Kick Combinations' which I've saved in my preferred list some years ago. This is a channel that has to be seen. Thanks for your shared knowledge.

[@joescartwright]

Great formula, I always tend to get stuck counting them with the secondary pulse unless i start with just the primary one but this has really helped me get my head around it, cheers.

[@sparking_emb]

I learned a lot here. These rhythms are all actually pretty easy, but it´s hard to play them so isolated and slowly. I think it´s very useful to analyse the rhythms like that. At the end youll have more control of what you play. I didnt know what semiquavers are, now I know, haha

[@amberfizz905]

Could never understand algebra and nearly flicked to another video but I'm glad I stuck with this one as it was actually incredibly easy to understand by following the stick and bass pattern to correspond with the algebra part. Thanks.

[@Zero_Ego]

Example: 3:2 Polyrhythm. N = 2 (Number of beats and also the number needed in the formula) X = 3 (Number of pulses) Accents > > > < Starting on 1, then continue accenting every 2nd (N) beat. X = 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 < This is not played but counted. Only play (>) and (N). N = 2 1 2 < Kick, 1, 2, (repeat) then play the Accents > 1r3r2r (repeat) (r = rest) Gives 3 beats over 2 beats in the same amount of time. ( e.g 2/4, 2/8, 2/32 = you choose) Note that (N) not only quantifies the number of beats, but also the type of beat. e.g 1, 2, (4), 8, 16, 32, 64. In this example, Sacha K has chosen quarter notes (4) for simplistic sake. This is all very new to me, the mind boggles at the possibilities. I have heard others mention "Truncating Polyrhythms", Truncating just means to 'chop off', so they truncate the patterns. (Chop off end sections) This is where the head scratching comes in as far as notating goes. (Well at least for this noob) I really enjoyed your video and one challenging exercise writing it out. :) I encourage anyone new at learning this stuff to stick with it. I watched this video several times to get my my head around the concept. Hope this helps. Thanks for helping me understand an amazing tool.

[@rawdonwaller]

i like this explanation and demonstration. it might be difficult for some. however, once you understand it, there is no further guesswork, misconceptions are minimised. well done

[@kilianbeylymusic7283]

Great video! I really love using maths in music and drums, especially when it's well explained. I think you helped a lot of people. THX a lot! :)

[@DouglasDavis]

By far the best Polyrhythm video I've found. Thanks so much!

[@tomkowalewski15]

Great tutorial. I always find your videos very clear and informative. Thank you very much for your generous contributions to those learning to drum!

[@jimlinsner5063]

This is the best and most straight forward explanation I've seen on polyrhythms. Thanks Sacha!!!!!

[@markcorradetti]

Thank you for this...you teach very eloquently and effectively

[@flippyflopper2360]

Easier definition of polyrythm formula: Take X:N (X and N are both numbers of your choosing) 1. Hit something X times per bar of N beats, both with even intervals. 2. Do it again so everyone knows your a music man from the future.

[@LucasStoten1]

This is easier when using lower numbers, but figuring out exactly where different notes land with more complex polyrhythms is hard without a proper formula!

[@kannank.]

Great lesson. Really helpful; by far the best video lesson on Polyrythm I've watched. Thanks so much Sacha K.

[@arunpariyar]

Thank you so much for this video !!! It was like giving me a 4k vision on the polyrhythm

[@aderyonn2015]

Your explanation about polyrhtym in this video is very easy to understand,thank you.

[@lanceh4653]

Wow! It makes sense how to arrive at playing it after the algebra explanation! So much THANKS!

[@jacobg9759]

I think polyrhythm is for intermediate-advance level drummer,for beginner like me,its little bit difficult to do it(i understand the theory tought),very great explanation 👍👍

[@DrummerJez86]

really like the way you explained this .. they didn't even explain it this perfectly in college

[@danielwiggins5739]

Hands down the best explanation on polyrhythms :) Thank you so much

[@Jeff-bs8uc]

Thank you sir for this it's very helpful, I've been feeling I ought to use more technical grooves on my metal band some.

[@arno1215]

Amazing video. Thanks for the formula !

[@CabooseNor]

1:33 Juan: "Sí? Sí? Sí..? SÍ?!?!"

[@fernandorodrigues9131]

Caboosep . Nor

[@abundantharmony]

Lmao

[@sid5537]

Sacha K, awesome video! Could you please make it for 4 to 7?

[@01FNG]

This gave me a greater and more general understanding of Polyrhythms and i don't even play drums thanks alot

[@bittermany]

Nice one mate, any chance for that longer numbers video soon?

[@brandonmackiedrums]

Great lesson. Totally get polyrhythms now, thanks

[@bobbyboygaming2157]

OMG THIS SACHSA DRUMS DUDE IS A FUCKING GENIUS. I have seen other people explain this formula and it would make no fucking sense whatsoever...

[@MattThorp]

Great vid, hard to grasp, but best I've seen yet. I tried to follow along with a piano roll notation hooked up to a drum plugin and did pretty well. Kinda got 2 of the patterns reversed. Most unclear part is the counting on the "accents". Say it's 3:4 so you're accenting every 4th "division". You'll have 12 divisions total (3x4). You seem to always start on 1. So are the accents 1, 4, 7, and 10 in that case?

[@sodasodahero]

You'll only have 3 accents in the 4 bars, since it's 3:4. What might be helpful is to count with your fingers and reset every time you reach 4. Every first time you start counting with your fingers is an accented note. While doing this you count four triplets in your head for four bars (1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and a). If you do this, you'll find the notes that are played in 3:4, which in your head would be: ''1'' of the first triplet, ''and'' of the second triplet, ''a'' of the third triplet. The fourth bar won't have a note in it. In other words, the accents are on 1, 5 and 9. Counting through till 12 while counting with your fingers finds you the accents easily: 1 (2, 3, 4) 5 (6, 7, 8) 9 (10, 11, 12) I hope this helps, I'm not particularly great at explaining, but this helped me a lot with understanding polyrhythms.

[@jonnifjader]

Phantastic! Thanks a million!!

[@TheRealLyrelia]

I enjoyed your video, Sacha! Shout out to Number Theory and Group Theory! I want to hear successively layered beats of primes as the basis for a piece, like transitioning smoothly from 1:2 to 2:3 to 3:5 to 5:7 and so on. Or traveling to and fro. I'm probably not good enough to do it myself. What's your favorite song and/or instrumental exhibiting a polyrhythm?

[@bradx9275]

EXCELLENT explanation, but my brain still locks up at 4:3. Best teaching of polyrhythms that I've seen.

[@jessedariano7999]

If anyone says let's make it easier by using algebra I'm out.

[@cosmintofan]

Go back to school then, this is 5th grade stuff

[@JD-qd5zp]

@Jerry Dariano - You don’t need algebra. You just need math skills. You have to be able to divide and work with fractions.

[@narqiez4669]

JD he was just sarcastic...

[@Not_Andrew_Huberman]

This was a joke,y'all got trolled

[@lyrablack8621]

That's actually what algebra is supposed to be used for, to make this kind of stuff easier to work with in your head

[@amber9040]

Thanks I have now become Danny Carey

[@kendrickjahn1261]

Haha

[@t-man5196]

Yeah right

[@aerobique]

Very interesting and helpful video i randomly stumbled upon.. dunno why.. (oh right.. tool - danny carey - polyrhythms etc..) Sorry for mypossibly confusing english.. Thoughts pop into my mind and i am only guessing but my theory is that "polyrythms" are more natural (literally in nature) than 4/4 boxes cause somehow.. i dunno.. i intuitively always played such "weird" rythms on guitar or drumcomputed or bellyclapped as kid without ever even remotely having "learned" a straight 2/4 or 4/4 mindcage(!?) standard- wich can be confusing at times when i try to Jam with my buddy cause i technically dont "understand" at all... it just naturally flows into rythmic patterns.. wich intuitively flow into actual grooves (wich on the run then just appear! to suprise me.. like they come from.. not from me.. from somewhere else .. wtf. My buddy does not feel it and ..just tries to think and"analyze" wich wasnt ever his strenghtto begin with.. so our Jam stucks and just ccreates frustration if anything.. well. In general do i think that there seem to be a form of deep mistery about true "creativity" cause it only works when i (just me?) let go of "thinking" and stuff i might learned" and then, only then BAM something new appears ! But when i(do we all!? thats what i wonder ) when i try to build something (no matter what, melodies, or a silly joke or a solution for a practical problem- a pattern of sort..) so when i conciously try to create e.g a new groove in my software the creativity magic does not really work at all.. besides repeating^ learned behaviour ^ (like especially here drummers.. "machines".. wich they kinda have to become to perform technically.. but wait a minute what is with the guys in deepest jungle drumming foir days in extacy naturally without ever having heard of a "polyrythm".) If all this is kinda normal and not only cause i am weird by nature then i think am onto something.. For real: WHERE the HECK do spontaneus, ideas actually come from? :D the "universe" ? Anyway Excuse my confusing appearance. Discover the flow in patterns Life is great.

[@marvellousmarv9072]

It's not nature or the universe. It's what separates a musician from somebody only understanding musical theory.

[@GeoffGattsDrums]

This is so helpful! Thank you!

[@moshoholicsanonymous]

Amazing explanation, thanks Sacha!

[@christophercleary5268]

Sacha, thank you so much for simplifying polyrhythms.

[@barrycarr428]

Superb video. This has helped me a lot! I feel like I have a much better understanding of polyrhythms

[@aleks0969]

I've been searching for good polyrythm videos for a while because I REALLY want to understand it and apply it to my vocabulary and I think this one has what I need but I just can't seem to get it straight foward, I feel like I understand it but then get stuck. Like I need a push or a word that can help get it clearly :/ I've tried my drum teacher but he just doesn't explain it to me.

[@JonXDom]

Nice, thanks for such a clear explanation!

[@mikelee1906]

Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms, that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter.

[@GretgorPooper]

This was very clear and informative :)

[@HarbinderSadra]

Thank you Mr sacha really cool video it helped my 12 year old son in year 7 who was failing music no he is really confident:) don't listen to Unelected Bureaucrat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelbennett8981]

I'm no dummy (he says), but you really helped my introduction to this rhythmic madness.

[@KungFuBlitzKrieg]

Using mnemonic devices helps me to remember polyrhythms. For instance, 4:3 is, "Pass the goddamn butter" (learned this one from Adam Neely), and 4:5 is, "Abe Lincoln always told the truth" (self-created). I had more, but have forgotten them. Do you guys know any?

[@coto5917]

yep.

[@BrunoNeureiter]

@@coto5917 It's for 1/4. thanks!

[@Jorgeperez-ss2mc]

Dude, Thanks !! ... Where could I find the next Polyrhythms lesson?

[@louisvdl4752]

So helpful! thank you very much!

[@missingpathway0]

So is this just an advanced technique to spice up portions of a song or should they be used throughout the entire song? To maintain continuity I mean.

[@jeffreykazanjian8013]

For the quintuplets, it seems like you're accenting 3 of them for one beat (1,3,5). Does that still make it a 5:2?

[@robinvandenbergh9184]

I understand what to do but i cant get my body to do it.... Every time i hit annother beat everything gets messed up. Im forcing it, just try to flow, go fast, slos... Nothing worksPlease of anybody knows what im talking about and has some tricks or tips, please share

[@jamesthornton1150]

You have to remember to ***COUNT THE BEATS IN YOUR HEAD*** and maybe slow down the tempo to reaalllyy slow to get it right and incrementally play faster once you are comfortable at the tempo you are playing. If you are having trouble putting it all together, play each element but itself e.g. just get the kick pattern down or just get the accents down while ***STILL COUNTING IN YOUR HEAD*** Practice each element on their own and then try and put them together. It just takes time to get your muscle memory into it. Don't give up and continue seeking more advice online or in person. This is coming from someone who had a good drum teacher and taught him good methods to practice drum patterns but also, someone who can't ***YET*** play polyrythems. I hope this does some help!

[@bad_keyzi]

I know these kinda patterns ever since I started listening to meshuggah. Still, very graphic. By the way, I think you messed up in one of the 5:4 sequences at the end, one of them sounded a bit sketchy, but great overall data. U got my like.

[@MittelalterKlampfe]

love it, thanks a lot! very helpful!

[@HarveeB]

I have an exam in 2 weeks and I don't even play the drums. What the hell am I doing

[@HarveeB]

@Cory Trevorson awww now now Corsie. What's wrong mate?

[@brandonlewisguitar]

you need a basic idea of sub divisions first but well explained thanks.

[@zecalimazeca]

GREAT EXPLANATION, GREAT TEACHER. THANKS A LOT FROM BRAZIL.

[@gregkeen4907]

Yes, but can you explain Meshuggah's Clockworks?

[@cjklz]

Isn't this poly meter? would love to know the diff rents with polyrhythm.

[@ricardojmestre]

Fantastic explanation ❤

[@bobbyboygaming2157]

How did you discover this formula? It's genius!

[@toneseeker87]

is it applicable in guitar?

[@TheDragogiovanni]

Jon Snow Wow... do you play guitar to a beat? Of coarse it is! Play one note for x and another for N....

[@lbboardingb3356]

King crimson, Tool, and Yes. You're welcome

[@akhimakhi93]

m8, you're my hero m8.

[@drv30]

Amazing video thanks!

[@AdamPettyMusic]

What's the song at the end of this video?

[@gurodj]

best video about PolyRhythmns!

[@fa-thunk3507]

Didn’t explain well enough, somehow got mixed up on the 2/4 beat and now have drumstick through eye socket.

[@HarbinderSadra]

DUMB-ASS

[@frankcantafio3638]

Thanks. This helped a lot.

[@drewr729]

Finally someone explained simple enough for a smart guy like me.

[@MrJuan3259]

If you gave the examples on a blackboard it would be much much better

[@brataganitya]

The besr explained of polyrhythms!!!

[@lajeanette33]

Thank you for that great tip!

[@omerkeidar95]

I'm a guitarist, and I lost you at "rythm"

[@FrancezcoVai]

I’m guitarist and i didn’t get lost

[@quinnmitchel4075]

@@FrancezcoVai yeh cause rhythm is not for drummers only obviously guitarists use rhythm idk what omer was talkin bout

[@larrytate1657]

How do u like the new Yamaha lugs? I have the nouveau lug style Yamaha absolute maple

[@emilde12]

Is there a fee for the pdf?

[@SachaKDrums]

Yes, you have to subscribe to my site (at which point you get all my stuff).

[@chadbierman8058]

Thank you so much I understand them just now gotta learn how to count for real 😂hahah

[@RidwanJohari]

OMG This really helps me so much in teaching my kids basic polyrhythms. Thanks a lot bro. You really open my eyes to explaining polyrhythms

[@Dmitry___S.]

Thank you very much.

[@davidemura4444]

everybody gangsta until 7:5 happens

[@LucasCirillo]

Thanks a lot!

[@alonzo2k]

thanks fir this Sacha

[@mattkeller580]

Ohhh, so this is why my drummer hates me.

[@parair90]

finaly i understand the basix ... thanks a lot 4 this :) .... thumbs up and favo/abo

[@cameronsterling3446]

That snare is beautiful

[@tylergates4075]

Handsome man with skill

[@viplavksmusic]

Thanks a lot

[@highstick0]

Thanks. Excellent breakdown.

[@JamesLaFleur]

Very interesting!

[@mohammadrezaghominej]

Hello and good time to you dear friend.Just Thanks and nothing else!Mohammad Reza Ghominejad(MRQ)Keyboard Player,Isfahan Iran.

[@thejoeyblaze6890]

thank you

[@Chillos100]

thnx a lot mate!!

[@jackrandomanomaly663]

thx 4 the video!

[@unelectedbureaucrat2003]

Why use X or n?

[@SachaKDrums]

They're just placeholder letters - so you can replace them with any given value, kind of like they do in math problems/formulas.

[@CaliforniaBushman]

The last time I was asked to play a polyrythem as a drummer was on a jingle session in 1982. Just a 5/2 Latin figure for Chaquita Bannanas. JK - Session musician's joke.

[@nealchakrabarti495]

Am I crazy or do the 4:3 and 3:4 sound like the same thing?

[@conorwarren333]

Neal Chakrabarti they’re essentially the same, except the hand and food are switched

[@scmtuk3662]

Try and explain how to do a 2:3:5:7:11:13 polyrhythm: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWPFd4Nufsmgd5Y Now this will probably take a LOT of practice to get right, and probably even more practice to be able to explain the best way to do it. You'd have to do a lot of subdivisions. To be exact, you'll be counting a total of 30030 beats, subdivided into: 2 groups of 15015 beats 3 groups of 10010 beats 5 groups of 6006 beats 7 groups of 4290 beats 11 groups of 2730 beats 13 groups of 2310 beats