Polyrhythmic drums?

chewy123450 · 08-03-2009, 10:14 PM

I've been listening to alot of Miles lately, and I can't get enough of Tony Williams on the drums. However, sometimes it sounds like he's offbeat, but onbeat at the same time. Are there any songs that are very prominent in the poly?

It's easily heard in 'Footprints'.

Dr_Rez · 08-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Just get any Jazz cd and chances are youll find quite a bit of it.

mr dave · 08-03-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RezZ

Just get any Jazz cd and chances are youll find quite a bit of it.

especially if you start looking into more of the freeform stuff.

RonaldSays · 08-04-2009, 08:56 AM

Polyrhythms don't necessarily means one of the rythms sounds off beat. Just playing more that one distinguished rythm at a time e.g. playing a straight 4/4 rythm on hihat and a rythm in triplets so that it seems 3/4. This is often used in jazz. It can sound pretty weird but it can also sound very natural.

Tony Williams is brilliant of course.

lj39 · 08-08-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonaldSays

Polyrhythms don't necessarily means one of the rythms sounds off beat. Just playing more that one distinguished rythm at a time e.g. playing a straight 4/4 rythm on hihat and a rythm in triplets so that it seems 3/4. This is often used in jazz. It can sound pretty weird but it can also sound very natural.

Tony Williams is brilliant of course.

Yeah..agree with this. Also, you might try going back and listening to what he is reacting TO that is making him play the alternate rhythm/beat. It might sound 'off' of what he is doing to propel the band, but he might be improvising off of another band member(s). Remember that while Tony was in the Miles band the whole group achieved a intense form of 'group telepathy' and could improvise off each other like mofo's!!!

Nicktarist · 08-14-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

could improvise off each other like mofo's!!!

amen. Miles' rhythm sections were always the ones to imitate. I wouldn't call it 'group telepathy' though. I would just call it an 'alignment with the universe'.

SATCHMO · 08-14-2009, 06:24 PM

Elvin Jones' drumming on Coltrane's A Love Supreme is very polyrhythmic if that's really what you're going for, but even in the case with him, despite the fact that he may seem a little off, he's very much on.

08-03-2009, 10:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
chewy123450 Groupie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5	Polyrhythmic drums? I've been listening to alot of Miles lately, and I can't get enough of Tony Williams on the drums. However, sometimes it sounds like he's offbeat, but onbeat at the same time. Are there any songs that are very prominent in the poly? It's easily heard in 'Footprints'.

08-03-2009, 10:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dr_Rez Registered Jimmy Rustler Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,360	Just get any Jazz cd and chances are youll find quite a bit of it. __________________ Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew Always Checks Credentials Crew nba > nfl crew Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew

08-04-2009, 08:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
RonaldSays Amateur Drum Kit Wrestler Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 155	Polyrhythms don't necessarily means one of the rythms sounds off beat. Just playing more that one distinguished rythm at a time e.g. playing a straight 4/4 rythm on hihat and a rythm in triplets so that it seems 3/4. This is often used in jazz. It can sound pretty weird but it can also sound very natural. Tony Williams is brilliant of course. __________________ Want to know what I have to say? My Blog My Twitter

08-14-2009, 06:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	Elvin Jones' drumming on Coltrane's A Love Supreme is very polyrhythmic if that's really what you're going for, but even in the case with him, despite the fact that he may seem a little off, he's very much on.