Polymeter vs polyrhythm: hear what stays the same
Compare the two players
| Listen for | 3:2 polyrhythm | 4 against 7 shared-pulse polymeter |
|---|---|---|
| What stays the same? | The duration of the whole cycle | The duration of each small pulse |
| What differs? | Spacing between notes in each part | Length of each repeating group |
| At the return | Both parts complete one cycle together | Four-pulse part has made seven loops; seven-pulse part has made four |
| Player setting | Same cycle | Same pulse |
Rhythm 1: Quarter-note pulses · Same cycle
Tap a block to change its accent. Mute a rhythm to practise each part separately.
Stopped
Rhythm 1: Eighth-note pulses · Same pulse
Tap a block to change its accent. Mute a rhythm to practise each part separately.
Stopped
Start each player separately, then mute one lane to hear its count. The lower-pitched lane helps you tell the parts apart. Starting another player stops the previous one.
Count the 3:2 polyrhythm on a six-position grid
Divide a cycle into six equal positions. The three-note part hits 1, 3 and 5. The two-note part hits 1 and 4. After position 6, both return to position 1. This grid is a way to learn the relationship; you do not have to keep saying six numbers once the pattern is secure.
| Grid position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three-note part | Hit | Hit | Hit | |||
| Two-note part | Hit | Hit |
In the 3:2 player at quarter note = 60, the first lane has three quarter-note pulses, so the shared cycle lasts three seconds. The two-note lane fits two notes into those same three seconds. A ratio such as 3:2 does not prescribe a particular cycle duration.
Count 4 against 7 until the group starts meet
Keep the eighth-note pulse fixed. On a grid numbered from zero, the four-pulse lane starts groups at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24. The seven-pulse lane starts at 0, 7, 14 and 21. The next shared start is position 28.
| Shared-pulse exercise | First shared return after the start | Loops completed |
|---|---|---|
| 3 against 4 | 12 pulses | Four loops of 3; three loops of 4 |
| 4 against 7 | 28 pulses | Seven loops of 4; four loops of 7 |
| 5 against 4 | 20 pulses | Four loops of 5; five loops of 4 |
For these examples, the return length is the least common multiple of the group lengths, measured in the shared pulse. At quarter note = 60 with eighth-note pulses, 28 pulses last 14 seconds. The player loop lengths stay fixed as you change the tempo.
An accent loop does not prove polymeter
Polymeter is a statement about concurrent meters, not just two numbers or two different rhythms. A repeating accent pattern over a single established meter may be described as displacement or metrical dissonance. Some music supports more than one reading. Our player makes the shared-pulse relationship audible; a full analysis also needs the phrase and its musical context.
Likewise, polyrhythm can be used more broadly than the tuplets shown here. Same cycle and Same pulse are practical AnyBeat settings for hearing this distinction, not a complete classification of every rhythmic texture.
Practise both parts without chasing them
- For 3:2, clap each part alone. Then keep one hand on the three-note part while speaking the two-note part. Use the six-position grid if you lose the spacing.
- For 4 against 7, listen to the seven-pulse lane and count the four-pulse lane out loud. Keep the smaller pulse even.
- Switch which lane you play and which you hear. Predict the next shared group start before it arrives.
- At the shared return, stop and restart. Confirm you can find the start deliberately instead of waiting for the click to rescue you.
- Change the tempo only after you can repeat the relationship without shortening a group. In the iOS app, additional rhythm lanes use AnyBeat Pro; both website examples can be played here.
Sources and further reading
These sources support the terminology and reference ranges. The counting exercises and practice steps are original AnyBeat examples.
- Open Music Theory: Twentieth-Century Rhythmic Techniques. Samuel Brady and Chelsey Hamm explain asymmetrical meter, changing meter, and simultaneous meters.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between polymeter and polyrhythm?
Polymeter means simultaneous meters. In the examples here, polymeter keeps a common pulse while groups have different lengths; the 3:2 polyrhythm fits differently spaced notes into one shared duration.
When does a 4 against 7 polymeter repeat?
With a common pulse, aligned starts and unchanged group lengths, both group starts meet again after 28 pulses. That is seven groups of four and four groups of seven.
Is a five-note riff over 4/4 always polymeter?
No. Five notes do not necessarily occupy five beats, and a repeated accent pattern may sit within one meter. State the note durations and listen to how both parts establish meter before choosing a label.
Stop fighting the metronome.
AnyBeat lets you build the bar you are actually practising, at any length and any grouping.
Keep practising
Odd meter: how to count 5/4, 7/8 and uneven groups
Learn what odd meter means, count 5/4, 7/8 and 11/8 in small groups, and hear playable examples with the pulse unit made clear.
Classical pianoChopin’s “Fantaisie-Impromptu”: four against three
Hear the four-against-three relationship in Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu, then build a simple two-voice AnyBeat exercise before returning to the score.
For teachersRhythm practice sheet: count, clap and keep the pulse
A free printable rhythm practice sheet with 7/8, 3:2 and 4-against-7 counting exercises, a practice log, and links to playable AnyBeat lessons.