User:Andrewa/swing rhythm


 * This article is about music. For other meanings of swing see swing.


 * Swing time redirects here. For the film, see Swing Time.

In jazz, a swing rhythm is a interpretive device in which pairs of notes written with equal values (usually eighth notes [quavers]) are played unequally, the first longer than the second, but the shorter second note often having somewhat of an accent. Generally the first note of each pair is twice as long as the second, a triplet feel.

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.

In the swing era, swing meant accented triplet (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, and no standard way of writing them as a time signature, but such rhythms could also be indicated by with a swing.

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


 * Music for foxtrot, quickstep and some other ballroom dances as noted above.


 * Swing (genre).

Styles that sometimes use swing rhythms include:


 * Early rock and roll as noted above.


 * Jazz.


 * Country and western.


 * Blues.


 * Big band

Equating swing to time signatures
Most often, the first portion is two thirds of the beat, giving a ratio of 2:1 between the lengths of the first and second portions of the beats. This type of swing rhythm is a shuffle rhythm and can be written either:


 * As compound time, such as 6/8 or 9/8. When played with the swing accent, these time signatures may be grouped together and called swing time. Swing time can also refer to swing music.


 * As simple time, such as 4/4 or 3/4, to be played with a swing.

Shuffle rhythm is essential for many dances, including foxtrot and quickstep, and occurred in early rock and roll music such as Bill Haley's Shake, Rattle and Roll and Rock Around the Clock and Buddy Holly's That'll Be The Day. In later rock and roll music it is unusual but not unknown. 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.