Figure 1
Figure 2
In figure 1, the left hand is clearly playing the basic pulse of a 3/4 time. The right hand however is playing the pulse of a 6/8 time.
In figure 2, the left hand is again playing the basic pulse of a 3/4 time, also sounding much like a 6/4 time. Whereas the right hand is playing the pulse of a 3/2 time.
Almost every accomplished jazz musician has mastered this technique, and is capable of calling it out anywhere in his or her solo.
A motif may be developed, and repeated as polyrhythms to create an interesting effect. Here is an example.
Figure 3
Notice in figure 3, the original time signature is a 4/4. However the motif has a length of a dotted minim each, giving it a rhythmic structure as shown below in figure 4.
Figure 4
The result is a polyrhythm between a basic 4/4 time and a 3/4 time.
Here is the great youtube jazz pianist Lot2learn demonstrating some use of the “two on three” polyrhythm.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hitting a series of notes at the right time produce the rhythmic pattern.
When left and right hand has a different set of rhythmic pattern like this, asking the pianist to have different set of rhythm counting for separate hands, it is really very difficult to play.
I guess the drummers can handle this pretty well.
Great article and great example by Lot2Learn.
Thanks for the article and using my example Pianologist. I studued drums when I was young and that helped with my grasp of advanced rhythmic techniques.
Lot2learn, you are the man!! Great skill.
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