Article: Split-brain polymeters. (polymetric music)(guitar lesson; includes musical notation examples)

HAVE YOU EVER LOST THE DOWNBEAT WHILE JAMMING on some groove and wound up playing another rhythm without the slightest idea of what's going on? Welcome to the world of polymeter.

Put simply, polymeter is the superposition of two or more diverse meters. Polymetric music is played in Africa, the East Mediterranean Levantine region, the Far East, and many other areas throughout the world. Learning to play polymetric rhythms will expand your mind and stretch your technique.

Here are some helpful hints for playing a polymetric pattern:

* First focus on what feels like the main beat; it's usually expressed in the bass.

* Listen for and feel the second ...

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