Mastering Polyrhythms

---

Two Against Three (2)

Dividing a Steady Beat

Before we can hope to manage a polyrhythm, we need to be very adept at keeping a steady beat and subdividing it equally into twos and then threes. The fun starts when you go from one subdivision to the other – this has to be done completely smoothly and seamlessly. Here is a preliminary exercise away from the keyboard to help you divide a steady beat into twos and three: Exercise No. 1 Clap a steady pulse in crotchets (quarter notes) and count out loud a steady stream of duplet quavers (eighth notes) alternating with triplet quavers....