Rhythmic unit
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A rhythmic unit is a durational pattern which occupies a period of time equivalent to a pulse or pulses on an underlying metric level, as opposed to a rhythmic gesture. Rhythmic units may be classified as:
- Metric: even-note patterns, such as steady eighth notes or pulses.
- Intrametric: confirming patterns, such as dotted eighth-sixteenth note and swing patterns.
- Contrametric: non-confirming, or syncopated patterns.
- Extrametric: irregular patterns, such as tuplets.
- (DeLone et. al. (Eds.), 1975, chap. 3)
References
- DeLone et. al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0130493465.