rhythm
The pattern of sound durations and accents in music.
In Depth
Rhythm is the organization of sounds and silences in time — the pattern of durations, accents, and groupings that gives music its sense of movement and pulse. Along with melody and harmony, rhythm is one of the three fundamental elements of music.
Rhythm operates at multiple levels simultaneously. The beat provides a steady pulse, the meter groups beats into patterns (like 4/4 or 3/4), and individual rhythmic patterns create the specific character of a piece. Syncopation disrupts expected accents, polyrhythm layers conflicting patterns, and rubato allows rhythmic flexibility for expression. Different musical traditions prioritize rhythm differently — West African and Indian music have the most sophisticated rhythmic systems in the world.
Babies can distinguish different rhythmic patterns from birth, and by six months they can detect rhythmic changes that adults in their culture cannot — suggesting rhythm is partly innate.