Step-by-step instructions how to play any number of notes over any number of beats. This video lesson includes the following polyrhythms:
3 over 4, 3 over 5, 3 over 7, 4 over 7, 5 over 4, 7 over 4.
topics: rhythm, konnakol, subdivisions, polyrhythms
Level: advanced
Instruments: for all instruments
Duration: approx. 9:40 min
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I am deeply intrigued by your video “The Power of Konnakol (7); How to play anything over anything”. The formula that you have given seems completely general and is very attractive in understanding the topic.
However, I am puzzled by the convention used in your notation. I am of the belief that the notation 3/4 indicates that there are 3 quarter notes in a bar. (3 being the numerator and 4 being the denominator). So if I follow your primary formula I have 4 Ta ki ta phrases:
Ta ki ta Ta ki Ta Ta ki ta Ta ki ta,
where the capitalized letters indicate a tick of the metronome. Similarly, if I follow your formula for 3/5, there are five Ta ki ta phrases:
Ta ki ta Ta ki ta Ta ki ta Ta ki ta Ta ki ta
where the metronome tick is again on the capital letters. I am confused by the fact that the metronome tick has remained the same for both 3/4 and 3/5. In the second case, I expect the tick to be faster
since I am expecting a 1/5 note instead of a 1/4 note. What am I getting wrong?
Hello Vijay, thanks for your question. The examples I used in my video are not intended to share a common bpm, nor are they related to each other. In other words, each stands on its own. Regarding the example of a 4 over 3 polyrhythm, it uses a 3/4 time signature. It could be any tempo. You “squeeze” 4 groups/elements into a 3/4 measure. There there is an example of a 3 over 5 polyrhythm. It uses a 5/4 time signature. Again, you could practice this at any tempo. Of course, one could relate these different examples to each other, but that’s not what I wanted to demonstrate. It’s was intended as a starting point, offering a simple formula. Feel free to develop these exercises further. All the best, cheers!