A different way to visualize rhythm - John Varney

In standard notation, rhythm is indicated on a musical bar line. But there are other ways to visualize rhythm that can be more intuitive. John Varney describes the ‘wheel method’ of tracing rhythm and uses it to take us on a musical journey around the world.

Lesson by John Varney, animation by TED-Ed.

[sblastois]

There needs to be an app where you can make beats with that circle he mentioned.

[Diarmadhim]

Once others recognize that this isn't being proposed as a "better" way to view rhythm, it can very easily excel as an educational tool for those of us that simply flounder when presented with the standard notation. As with all things "classical education, " we need to recognize that it is not inherently the most effective way to teach things, but is instead the one that has been utilized the longest.
Thank you for sharing.

[mayank_b]

Can we take some time to appreciate the animation and the quality knowledge provided in this video.

[JloBroOFFICIAL]

it would be impossible to write an entire song this way because you couldnt write anything longer than 1 bar. but just for giving people a new way to imagine how it works, this video is awesome.

[dylanlabon]

Rhythm is what I struggle with the most as a musician and composer. I tend to favor simple rhythms because I have a hard time internalizing the beat. I don't think this video solved all of my rhythmic issues, but I do think it generally gave me a better understanding of rhythm. I really appreciate this different perspective you shared with us.

[theresak]

I dance flamenco and every time we study a new flamenco rhythm, our teacher uses a circle to make it more clear where the beats are. It definitely makes the process of understanding rhythms easier.

[AkashSingh-kuyc]

In Indian classical music, rhytm (taala) is traditionally visualized as cyclic!

[StephenTack]

I like this way of visualizing rhythms...I wish there were a drum machine app designed like this.

[AnubisXII]

Wow. I can remember a long time ago when I first started to play. I was jamming with this dude who didn't have a feel for the groove. He would carry his fills two or three 16ths past the count and restart at the beginning of the bar. Turn a 4/4 groove into 5/4 and 9/8 and 4/4, all at random times.
But anyway I was trying to think of a way to explain to this dude (without knowing a damn thing about music and bars and timekeeping, etc...), that his fills were extending past the count, and the only way I could think in a way that made me understand what was happening in a way that I could explain to him was using this circular pattern.
Its okay to fill past the 12, but when you come back to the groove, you gotta slide in as if the groove never left.
Im confusing myself trying to think about how I explained it to him, but I know what I was talking about. Im sure we were really high at the time, so Im sure it made total sense.

[pmyou]

I am impressed. A beautiful visualization, and one I have never encountered before. Thanks!

[yacovsimons]

Amazing.
I love small intuitive visual geometric condensed simplified lessons that contain a lot of potential.
This is my style of learning.

[felicialally]

i don't know that this will help me in life, but it is nice to know and appreciate that some people's brains work differently, and they see the world in a different way. that in itself is beautiful.

[sophiejones]

wish I'd learned this when I was six and attempting to play the violin. rhythms confused me for the longest time, and all my teacher could do was say "count it out". so helpful...

[ragamuffinukes]

40 yrs I've been dabbling in music with no inherent rhythm; when going beyond 2-beat toe tapping, i had 2 large left feet! ...but, i continue to strive to learn how to let go & let the beat in... and in 5 minutes you brought it all home... 😂😍🎵🎶 thank you! going to watch the entire lesson...

[LaCrisArts]

Wow! This reminded me of one time that I saw a street artist with some bottles and a train. The bottles where set in the track and as the train was passing by, the music was played. It was beautiful to see the rhtyhm and how the space between the bottles in the circle could anticipate if a fast tempo was coming or a slow... well, anyway!
Thank you for doing this :)

[howser]

Brilliant - a true insight and a wonderful, magical, deeper understanding of the realm of rhythm. Outstanding!!!

[kingrosalani]

The circle is a very interesting way to think of rhythm. Sort of like a physical metronome with your rhythms written on it

[Jay-prkn]

I've always done the same where I visualize rhythm back and forth, except it's so much easier than what's shown here. You just move back and forth according to the downbeats and fill in the in-betweens with divisions. The way they show here with the circular visuals are more suitable for polyrhythm, I would say.

[kambizdara]

a very nice and important thing about the rhythm in nature is that they are almost always irregularly regular. And I think this makes nature so special and unique. Thank you for the video.

[peterstiles]

Superb video.
For someone who knows nothing about music, like me, that explained so much.  Easy to understand and intuitive.
Thanks.