It has been suggested that Swung note be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

In music, swing rhythm is a convention that the half beats are played not equally as written, but with the first longer than the second and the shorter second note having an accent. Generally the first note of each of these pairs is twice as long as the second, giving a triplet feel. A rhythm that is not swung is called a straight rhythm. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... A Swung note is a rhythmic device, also known as a shuffle note; it is an augmentation of the initial note in a pair and diminution of the second. ... Wikibooks Wikiversity has more about this subject: School of Music Look up Music on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikisource, as part of the 1911 Encyclopedia Wikiproject, has original text related to this article: Music MusicNovatory: the science of music encyclopedia The Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Distionary, with definitions, pronunciations, examples... See also the beat disambiguation page. ... A triplet is a set of three items, and includes in particular: one of three babies in a multiple birth a preparation of opal as a gemstone, with a thin layer of opal backed with a dark material and covered with cap of clear quartz in poetry, a tercet (three...

In jazz, this interpretive device is assumed in most written music other than latin jazz, but may also be indicated. For example, Satin Doll, a swing era jazz standard with a pronounced swing rhythm, was published written in 4/4 time, but at least some versions also note medium swing. Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz harmonies from the United States. ... The Swing Era is generally accepted as being the era of big bands and hot jazz, 1930-1946. ...

In dance music, swing rhythm generally refers to the metre of the music, rather than to this convention of notation, so any music played with the triplet timing and swing accent will be referred to as swing rhythm however it is written, see below. A contemporary dancer rehearsing in a dance studio Dance (from Old French dance, further history unknown) generally refers to human movement either used as a form of expression (see also body language) or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting. ... Metre is the measurement of a musical line into measures of stressed and unstressed beats, indicated in Western notation by a symbol called a time signature. ...

Development of swing

Early blues was often accompanied by a band playing in 12/8 within which the singer, who generally exercised great rhythmic freedom, often accented notes other than the beat. This, combined with the persistent offbeat accents of ragtime, led to swing rhythms pervading early jazz. Except for very fast jazz and slow ballads, all written jazz music is assumed to be performed with a swing rhythm, although publishers sometimes specify "with a swing". For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form often based on the twelve-bar chord progression. ... Ragtime is an American musical genre, enjoying its peak popularity around the years 1900–1918. ...

In jazz and big band music, a shuffle is almost always accompanied by a distinctive cooking rhythm played on the ride cymbal or hi hat. Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... A big band, also known as a jazz orchestra, is a large musical ensemble that plays swing music. ... A 20 inch Sabian AAX Metal Ride A ride cymbal is a type of cymbal that is a standard part of most drum kits. ... The hi-hat stand has changed little since its invention. ...

Styles that always use traditional (triplet) swing rhythms include:

• Music for foxtrot, quickstep and some other ballroom dances.

• Swing (genre).

Styles that sometimes use swing rhythms include: First panel of most 2005 Sunday strips. ... Quickstep is an International Style ballroom dance that follows a 2/4 or 4/4 time beat similar to a fast Foxtrot. ... Ballroom dance is a style of partner dance which originated in the western world and is now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the globe. ... Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of jazz music that solidified as a distinctive style during the 1930s in the United States. ...

• Early rock and roll such as Bill Haley's Shake, Rattle and Roll and Rock Around the Clock, Buddy Holly's That'll Be The Day, and Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock. In later rock and roll music it is unusual but not unknown.

• Country and western

• Blues

• Big band

Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Bill Haley, with his band, the Comets, was one of the first rock and roll acts to tour the United Kingdom. ... Shake, Rattle and Roll is a prototypical twelve bar blues-form rock and roll song written by Jesse Stone (under his working name Charles Calhoun). ... This article is about the song. ... Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936–February 3, 1959), better known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer, songwriter, and a pioneer of Rock and Roll. ... Thatll Be The Day by Buddy Holly and The Crickets is credited as being written by Allison, (this being Jerry Allison the drummer with the group), Holly, (the lead guitarist and vocalist) and Petty, (Norman Petty being the manager). ... Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll (sometimes shortened to The King) was an American singer and actor. ... Jailhouse Rock is a hit song by the American musician Elvis Presley. ... Country music, once known as Country and Western music, is a popular musical form developed in the southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, spirituals, and the blues. ... For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form often based on the twelve-bar chord progression. ... A big band, also known as a jazz orchestra, is a large musical ensemble that plays swing music. ...

Transcribing swing rhythms

In the swing era, swing meant accented triplets (shuffle rhythm), suitable for dancing. With the development of bebop and later jazz styles independent of dancing, the term was used for far more general timings. There is much debate over use of other ratios than 2:1 in swing rhythms. Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of jazz music that solidified as a distinctive style during the 1930s in the United States. ... The shuffle rhythm is a rhythm that can be regarded as the basis of the blues backbeat, and can be heard on many jazz, rock and roll and soul music recordings. ... Bebop or bop is a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos and improvisation based on harmonic structure rather than melody. ... Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ...

Some publishers of jazz music, especially those whose intended audience is people unfamiliar with jazz styles, transcribe the swing either:

• As compound time, such as 6/8, 9/8, or 12/8. When played with the swing accent, these time signatures may be grouped together and called swing time, or swing time can also mean a simple time played with the swing convention.
• As triplets within a duple meter.

In music, compound metre or compound time is a time signature or meter in which each beat (or rather, portion, 1/2 or 1/3 of a measure) is divided into three parts, as opposed to two which is simple meter. ... The time signature (also known as meter signature) is a notational device used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each bar and which note value (minim, crotchet, quaver, and so on) constitutes one beat. ... In music, simple metre or simple time is a time signature or meter in which each beat (or rather, portion, 1/2 or 1/3 of a measure) is divided into two parts, as opposed to three which is compound meter. ... A triplet is a set of three items, and includes in particular: one of three babies in a multiple birth a preparation of opal as a gemstone, with a thin layer of opal backed with a dark material and covered with cap of clear quartz in poetry, a tercet (three...

See also

• Notes inégales, a 17th-century French usage of similar metres and notation.

• Swing (genre) for music of the swing era.

• Swung note for a deeper and more mathematical treatment.

• Clave (rhythm) for the rhythms of latin jazz and latin dances.

In music, notes inégales (French: unequal notes) refers to a performance practice, mainly from the Baroque and Classical music eras, in which notes with equal written time values are performed with unequal durations, usually as alternating long and short. ... Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of jazz music that solidified as a distinctive style during the 1930s in the United States. ... A Swung note is a rhythmic device, also known as a shuffle note; it is an augmentation of the initial note in a pair and diminution of the second. ... Clave is a rhythmic pattern or timeline which has its roots in West African music and was developed in Cuba. ... Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz harmonies from the United States. ... The term Latin dances in the context of social and ballroom dances may be used in two meanings. ...

External links

• A definition of swing

• Another definition

• A definition of swing music, essay saying it's written many ways but always played as 2:1

• Blues shuffle for guitar

• rec.arts.dance FAQ

• A mathematical model for swing ratios