Polyrhythm vs. Polymeter

Learn the difference between polyrhythms and polymeters with this simple lesson, featuring examples inspired by the Stranger Things soundtrack.

Polyrhythms, polymeters, pollywogs... these are strange things, right? Wrong! They're our friends, well, only when you take the time to get to know them. After our "Polymeter Bass" video last week, our inbox filled up with questions about the difference between polyrhythms (two or more rhythms playing simultaneously) and polymeters (two or more time signatures playing simultaneously), so we decided to make a lesson on this oft-misunderstood topic! In this Hack Music Theory lesson, Ray uses a Stranger Things soundtrack inspired synth chord progression and bass line as the foundation to write two versions of the same melody: one is polyrhythmic, and one is polymetric. He teaches the theory along the way for 4:3 and 3:2 polyrhythms, and an 11/8 over 4/4 polymeter, and finishes with an epic A/B comparison of a polyrhythm and a polymeter, so you can finally hear and know the difference. Click play now, and say goodbye to all your poly-confusion once and for all. But first... tea!

INTRO
0:00 Introduction
1:44 Chord Progression
2:53 Polymeters & Polyrhythms Defined
3:32 Two Melodies: Polymeter vs. Polyrhythm
POLYMETER
3:58 How to Write a Melody in a Polymeter
5:29 Two Ways to Loop the Other Time Signature
6:24 Choosing Notes for the Melody
6:58 Cutting the Last Bar of a Polymeter to Align
9:17 Polymetric Melody (Example)
POLYRHYTHM
9:41 How to Write a Melody in a Polyrhythm
11:19 Moulding the Melody into a Polyrhythm
12:43 Speeding Up the Polyrhythm
13:53 Unpolyrhythm it!
14:50 Polyrhythmic Melody (Example)
COMPARISON
15:41 Polymeter vs. Polyrhythm (Final Example)

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Hi, we are Kate Harmony and Ray Harmony, AKA Revolution Harmony. Every Monday you’ll find us here, sharing our top-secret songwriting hacks with you, for free. So whether you’re a beginner or a professional, a songwriter or a producer, these hacks will have you writing great songs in no time.

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Who is RAY HARMONY?
Ray is an award-winning music lecturer and the author of the critically-acclaimed book series, Hack Music Theory. After decades of teaching ‘popular’ and ‘classical’ music theory, Ray created a unique crossover method for songwriting, which we call Hack Music Theory. We use this method to write all our music. Ray’s songs have even featured Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Kool Keith, and many more.

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Who is KATE HARMONY?
Kate is the only person on the planet who's been trained by Ray Harmony to teach his Hack Music Theory method. In 2014, she undertook her formal teacher training at the Revolution Harmony School of Music, and has since become a partner and lead teacher, training up the next generation of Hack Music Theory teachers. Kate has a Grade 8 (the highest grade) Distinction in Popular Music Theory from the London College of Music, and is also a songwriter, recording artist and producer.

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Music by Revolution Harmony
(c) 2017 Revolution Harmony

[VillaCarrington]

Aka: Meshuggah's debunked. Would kill to see a lesson about syncopation! It was the simplest explanation about this topic ever. You've made musical theory so more friendly.

[igordoner]

This is amazing. I've just discovered that a lot of my favourite music uses these 'hacks'.

In this one, the polymeter one gives you more of a feeling of exploring and wandering about;
the polyrhythm gives you more of a feeling of being lost.

Both bring you back home.

I absolutely love the multi-layered nature of these melodies.

[HackMusicTheory]

* *VOTE NOW* * Which do you prefer, the *Polymeter* or the *Polyrhythm* ? (listen at 15:41 to compare)

[chrisdunnettmusic]

I get the difference between Polyrhythm and Polymeter but what about Polyunsaturated fats ;)

[aoxian]

This is a really well made video. Everything is clearly explained and the examples sound really amazing. My favorite episode to date!

[ShadowViper]

Thank you guys so much. This video was so helpful to tie up any loose ends I had with regards to Polymeter versus Polyrhythm.
These videos are always so well thought out, structured and well produced, I absolutely love it.

[gulaki]

Thank you so much. This was an awesome explanation. It makes things much clearer. I'm a self taught guitarist, I've learnt most things on my own, but it's people like you who propel my understanding of music in leaps and bounds.

[chrisdaviesguitar]

My new favourite channel. Loving this stuff dude.

[peterweston]

I think the polyrhythm suits the "Stranger Things" idea better. Could you do a video where you zoom out a little and talk about overall song structure? I enjoyed your videos on verses and choruses, but I would like to know how to transition from one to the other... and whatever else comes to mind.

[audiowavezofficial]

Super cool explanation and demonstration. thanks bud.

[vovinlonshin]

The end of the Polymeter then Polyrhythm, was great. You know, 8bars of PM then 4 bars of PR would make a awesome verse & chorus song segment!

[titiand]

Dude . . mind blown. This is great. Ive written some stuff where is did this by accident, seeing it mapped out like this though. . totally cool.

[JanosGafertDrums]

Will this say, that the essential difference is, that polymeters are different times signatures together and polyrhythms the same but different rhythms.. so 3/4 against 4/4 fx is polymetric or polyrhythmic?

[jelly.]

You both have outdone yourself again!
Simple example beats that in the end made me nodd my head with amazement! could see myself driving at night on the autobahn listening to a track made out of this.
👍👍👍👍👍👍

[ghostuncle]

The polymeter version sounds more chaotic and random to me, which is great if that is the effect you're after. If I want my listeners to feel unsettled, I'll consider polymeter. If I want them to dance with confidence, polyrhythm is the way to go. Am I right in assuming that all polymeter phrases are also polyrhythmic?

[frangellico]

amazingly well explained. Good examples. Big thaks! id love to see how do you apply those concepts on drums, fx or percs to enhace the groove of clasic 4/4

[toph_us]

ok so a polyrhythm is when two different patterns, are going on in the same time signature, but polymeter is when two different instruments(guitarists, bass drum + snare etc) are going at two different time signatures? does time signature matter? confused 🙃love your channel!!

[PatrickSchouten]

Great video, just a question: when printing this music to a score will you show the meter changes, or do you leave them to 4/4

[SaraiHajbi]

HI! Can anyone tell me when and where they use polymeter on Stranger Things? like what episode etc.. it will really help me! thank you and a great video!!!

[gktde]

Really good job Ray! Music Pedagogy at its best.