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Author:  David Luebbert Posted:  2/19/2005; 8:57:16 PM Topic:  Fascinating Rhythm Msg#:  4494 (in response to 4493) Prev/Next:  4493/4495 Reads:  505

Michael, the change from 4/4 in the verse to 2/2 in the chorus does not indicate a change of tempo, but does indicate a change of accentuation between the verse and the chorus.

The 4/4 indicates that the bar is divided up into four beats, with each beat given emphasis. The change to 2/2 indicates that the tempo does not change but that only the half note divisions of the bar receive an accent. What were the offbeats in the 4/4 measures are left unaccented in the 2/2 measures.

The change in meter does express the idea that beats occur twice as slow in 2/2 as in 4/4. A beat in 2/2 covers two quarter notes, with two beats per bar. A beat  in 4/4 covers one quarter note with four beats per bar that sum to the same total duration as a 2/2 bar.

• Re: Fascinating Rhythm, Pam, 3/9/2005; 8:13:41 AM

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