Straight vs dotted rhythms
When the beat is subdivided, we can do so equally:
Alternately, the rhythm can be 'dotted', where the two subdivisions have different lengths. For example, where the beat is split into 4, and the first note held for 3 subdivisions:
Or the opposite, where the first note is the shortest, and the second takes the remaining time:
Spend some time listening to each of these 3 cases and clap each one 20 times or so, using the audio to hear if you're clapping in time.
These irregular rhythm patterns are commonly called 'swing' or 'lilt' depending on the musical idiom.
Combinations
Here are these rhythms in different combinations with other notes, so you can hear how they sound.
Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
Set 4
Set 5
Set 6
Example tunes
