Understanding Basic Music Theory, 2013a

47
Other musical traditions tend to be more rhythmically complex than Western music, and much of the
syncopation in modern American music is due to the inuence of Non-Western (Section 2.8) traditions,
particularly the African roots of the African-American tradition.Syncopation is such an important aspect of
much American music, in fact, that the type of syncopation used in a piece is one of the most important clues
to the style and genre of the music.Ragtime 47 , for example, would hardly be ragtime without the jaunty
syncopations in the melody set against the steady unsyncopated bass.The "swing" rhythm in big-band
jazz and the "back-beat" of many types of rock are also specic types of syncopation.If you want practice
hearing syncopations, listen to some ragtime or jazz.Tap your foot to nd the beat, and then notice how
often important musical "events" are happening "in between" your foot-taps.
1.2.8 Tempo 48
The tempo of a piece of music is its speed.There are two ways to specify a tempo.Metronome markings are
absolute and specic.Other tempo markings are verbal descriptions which are more relative and subjective.
Both types of markings usually appear above the sta, at the beginning of the piece, and then at any spot
where the tempo changes.Markings that ask the player to deviate slightly from the main tempo, such as
ritardando (Gradual Tempo Changes, p.49) may appear either above or below the sta.
1.2.8.1 Metronome Markings
Metronome markings are given in beats per minute.They can be estimated using a clock with a second
hand, but the easiest way to nd them is with a metronome, which is a tool that can give a beat-per-minute
tempo as a clicking sound or a pulse of light.Figure 1.72 shows some examples of metronome markings.
47 "Ragtime"
48 This content is available online at .
Available for free at Connexions