Lesson 5 - It's All About Playing with the Perfect Beat

Imagine a pianist, or any other musician for that matter, playing music without timing. Would you want to dance or sing or jam with the music? Probably not. A song that lacks rhythm cannot be called complete because rhythm is an essential element to music.

Rhythm is a basic ingredient in playing the piano because it gives drive to the song. It makes the song come alive. When you play with accurate rhythm, it can be said that you're feeling the pulse of the music and adding zest to your piano playing. When you reach the level where you need to improvise --- like playing jazz, for instance --- rhythm also plays a very important part in the process.

Rhythm is about timing and counting the music while you play. To most, playing with accurate rhythm is not an easy task especially if you are very conscious with other things such as hitting the right keys, keeping the proper posture, looking at the music sheet, and listening to how the chords sound. Yes, it could be very overwhelming! And that’s understandable especially for beginners. For some rhythm comes naturally but for others it is a struggle. Yes, a pianist may play the right keys flawlessly, but if its timing if off, the music will sound like it's all over the place --- simply a disaster! Many piano players are actually struggling with rhythms, so you’re not alone.

To learn rhythm, you should listen to and study music of different genre. Learn their basic beats and rhythm patterns. Once you get familiar with the various rhythm patterns of different types of music, you will be able to easily identify and mimic the patterns. The secret, I repeat, is listening and listening some more.

Now that you're accustomed to rhythm in music, let's learn the standard rhythm that consists of four beats per one measure. Of course, there are also three-, two-, and even five-beat rhythms. It is always advisable that you learn all the common and not-so-common beats. Practice them regularly. Counting and clapping the hands or tapping one's feet are also very important if you wish to embed rhythm into your subconscious. So be loud!

Take not also that oftentimes a rhythm abruptly changes in the middle of the song. But if you've been accustomed to the beat already, it will not be hard for you to get back on track. You can actually scour the Internet for some lessons in rhythm. We have here one tried-and-tested rhythms exercises that you can start doing. It involves tapping a steady beat your foot while singing against the beat. Why don't you try this right now?

First, tap four beats with your foot over and over. Count out loud while you do it. And while tapping, make one (the first beat) the hardest. Next sing the word "da" on the first tap. Repeat this until you get comfortable and familiar with the beat. Then, sing "da" on the first and third taps. After that, mix the "das" and tappings with different durations and different combinations. From there, you will be able to create even your own rhythm. You should be able to get more rhythm exercises in video on the Internet. Take advantage of them. They’re free!

Believe it or not, learning rhythm is much easier for those who love to dance because dancing is actually repeating steps that go with the beat of the music. So if you don't dance, might as well do so (even it means dancing in the privacy of your bedroom). Put on your headphones and just dance your heart out until your steps blend with the music. The secret to learning rhythm actually is trying to feel the music. When you close your eyes and just be one with the beat, deciphering the rhythm pattern will just come out naturally.

Another brilliant idea to learn rhythm is imagining a piano in front of you and just playing like you are very good at it, like someone who has mastered his rhythm. This actually helps because an imaginary piano does not create a sound (obviously), hence there is no "distraction." You can close your eyes and just hit the imaginary keys to your own interpretation of the song's beat. You can easily change from one rhythm to another too, because you couldn’t care less about the sound.

Now if you still can't get the beat using the above methods, maybe you need a rhythm accompaniment called metronome. It is a devise used by some pianists to keep their timing while playing because the metronome gives out a pulse. Playing with the metronome has effectively helped musicians enhance their sense of rhythm and allowed them to play the piano with color, life, and soul.