18 Rhythms you should know

Not every rhythm has a widely recognised name, but for those that do it will be because that rhythm has a particular cultural significance. So today we are going to look at 18 of these "named" rhythms so you can be familar with how they sound and where they come from.

📌NOTE: on 15th April 2025 I had to cut out the clips of "Faith" by George Michael, “Panic in Detroit” by David Bowie and "His Latest Flame" by Elvis from the Bo Diddley beat section of this video due to copyright claims.

And, an extra special thanks goes to Douglas Lind, Vidad Flowers, Ivan Pang, Waylon Fairbanks, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇

SOURCES:

0:00 Introduction
0:11 Son Clave
1:30 Bo Diddley beat
2:42 Tresillo
4:32 Rumba Clave
5:30 Standard African Bell pattern
6:21 Shuffle
7:40 HDpiano
8:14 Swing
9:21 Scotch Snap
10:24 Bossa Nova
11:34 Charleston
12:09 Waltz
13:27 5/4 clave
14:00 Triplets
14:25 Tuplets
14:43 3:2 Polyrhythm
15:51 4:3 Polyrhythm
16:44 Football Clap
17:37 Shave and a haircut, two bits
18:34 Patreon

[blakelowe]

I once heard two seagulls crying(? is that the word for what seagulls do?) in a 4:3 polyrhythm. That was a fun day.

[martingrieco]

David Bennet just consistently churning out some absolute gems

[martinedwards]

The musical joke of an incomplete Shave And A Haircut rhythm was used in the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit. In it the judge (Christopher Lloyd) finds Roger by playing the first bar. Roger can’t resist and comes out of hiding to sing, “Two bits!”

[han-dell]

In Australia we had a heap of ads for AAPT Smart Chat on TV (phone company), they used the Football Clap rhythm to make the jingle "A A AAP AAPT SMART CHAT"

[TobeyFairre]

"Pass the god damned butter" is a phrase that's going to be stuck in my head for a while.

[julieanderson]

Okay. I just had to pause this to comment. I am only 1/3 of the way through and have learned more about rhythm patterns in the last 6+ minutes than in 50+ years of living. This is exactly the hole I've been looking to fill in my knowledge. Thank you for making this video!

[Kylora]

The "football clap" is used in the opening handclaps of John Fogerty's "Centerfield" (a song about playing baseball). It's also used in the Bay City Rollers' "Saturday Night." It's really common as a stadium organ riff in the US (typically baseball and hockey teams will have an organist playing live music during breaks to pump the crowd up).

[dongentle]

World, folk, classical, jazz and pop all referenced. Love it.

[nicolasforfant]

Football clap in French : " qui c'est - les plus forts - évidemment - c'est nous " Shouted in rythm by supporters in any sport / game, clapping hands on the two last

[benjaminprietop]

"Do You Remember Rock'N'Roll Radio?" by the Ramones also uses the football clap. Great video David!

[limlim]

Please do more videos on rhythm, specifically for piano playing

[fromchomleystreet]

Jeff Porcaro’s “Rosanna” groove is both a 12/8 shuffle AND the Bo Diddley beat, put together.

[victorhugotoledocofre]

Another well-known example for the Bo Diddley beat is "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow (1982).

[tuca]

The last one is crazy because it shows that there are not only unresolved chords but also but also rythms. So cool

[johndav_iD]

I know the Football Clap as the signal for everyone to be quiet in school here in the U.S. It didn't always work ... but that's what I know it to be used for

[leahm]

As soon as I heard the Bo Diddley beat Faith popped into my head.

[musicevangelist]

In New Zealand (and possibly Australia) the football clap was used to advertise Milo, a malted drink powder and the 'two bits" part was said Mi-Lo

[UrbanGarden-rfop]

@ 16:47
There was a Swedish pop show in the sixties called Drop In.
They used Let’s Go as their intro/outro music.
There is a live 12 minute video of The Beatles playing at Drop In,  
30th October 1963, on YT. 
They’re even participating with hand claps in the “Drop In” outro.

So that’s my reference🎶

[GizzyDillespee]

Excellent idea and execution. Your past couple of videos (inc the KG&LW) have been fabulous!

[queenodoubt]

The "shave and a haircut two bits" is popular in Argentina but not in music, but with knocking on doors, or with honking to a passing car or a friend, or ringing a doorbell, things like these.