How to Write Polymeter DRUMS • Music Theory from Periphery "Atropos"

  How to Write Polymeter DRUMS Step 1. Kick in 7The new Periphery single “Atropos” (from the album Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre) opens with a classic djent polymeter, which we love! Staying true to Meshuggah’s original polymeter recipe, the kick is in odd time while the snare and cymbals are in 4|4. So, start by programming a one-bar kick rhythm in 7|8. And just cos you’re in 7|8, doesn’t mean you have to only use 1/8 notes, so change your grid to 1/16 notes. By the way, the tempo is 80 BPM.Once you’re happy with your kick rhythm, copy and paste it over four bars of 4|4. At the end of your 4-bar loop, you’ll notice that you can’t fit a full bar of 7|8. Don’t worry, that’s part of the fun of playing these polymeters. Simply chop off whatever doesn’t fit of your 7|8 rhythm. In fact, that’s how you get those abrupt-sounding loops that are one of the main characteristics of djent polymeters.Just before we jump into the next step. If there’s an artist you want us to hack, drop us a comment on the YouTube video. Also, are you new to music theory? Or are you experienced, but you want a refresher? Then download our free book (below). It only takes 30 minutes to read, then you’ll have a solid theory foundation that you can instantly apply to your songwriting and producing.  Step 2. Snare in 4This is the easy and fun part! Start by playing a crash on every 1/8 note. This keeps the pulse and lays your 4|4 foundation. Then for momentum and to give the djent kids something to shake their heads to, throw in a regular backbeat snare, which is on beat 2 and beat  4. Right, now you’ve got a polymeter! But, there’s more.Periphery’s drummer Matt Halpern does this really cool thing that most people won’t even notice. Where the kick and snare overlap in bar 2 beat 4, he moves that kick a 1/16 note earlier. This tiny variation makes the repeating 7|8 rhythm less obvious, which melts the two time signatures together a little bit. Small tweak, but it’s super creative!Next, throw in some accents on a second crash (or china). You can do whatever you want here as your polymeter is already established. We accented the first beat in every bar of 7|8 with a china, as well as beat 3 in every bar of 4|4. This further melts the two time signatures together. And lastly, a little kick and snare variation at the end of the loop will act as a mini-fill to transition back around to the beginning.  Free Book

Wooohooo!!! You’re a mere 30 minutes away from being even smarter than you already are. Just head on over to your inbox now for your free download.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

“The most brilliant, fast, easy & fun music theory book I’ve ever seen!” DEREK SIVERS, CD Baby founder

We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.

DOWNLOAD FREE BOOK 

/* Layout */

.ck_form {

/* divider image */

background: #EAE9EA url(data:image/gif;base64,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) repeat-y center top;

font-family: 'Montserrat';

line-height: 1.5em;

overflow: hidden;

color: #000000;

font-size: 16px;

border-top: none;

border-top-color: #666666;

border-bottom: none;

border-bottom-color: #3d3d3d;

-webkit-box-shadow: none;

-moz-box-shadow: none;

box-shadow: none;

clear: both;

margin: 0px 0px;

}

.ck_form, .ck_form * {

-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;

-moz-box-sizing: border-box;

box-sizing: border-box;

}

#ck_subscribe_form {

clear: both;

}

/* Element Queries — uses JS */

.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {

width: 50%;

float: left;

padding: 5%;

}

.ck_form.ck_horizontal {

}

.ck_form_content {

border-bottom: none;

}

.ck_form.ck_vertical {

background: #fff;

}

.ck_vertical .ck_form_content, .ck_vertical .ck_form_fields {

padding: 10%;

width: 100%;

float: none;

}

.ck_vertical .ck_form_content {

border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

overflow: hidden;

}

/* Trigger the vertical layout with media queries as well */

@media all and (max-width: 499px) {

.ck_form {

background: #fff;

}

.ck_form_content, .ck_form_fields {

padding: 10%;

width: 100%;

float: none;

}

.ck_form_content {

border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

}

}

/* Content */

.ck_form_content h3 {

margin: 0px 0px 0px;

font-size: 0px;

padding: 0px;

}

.ck_form_content p {

font-size: 14px;

}

.ck_image {

float: left;

margin-right: 5px;

}

/* Form fields */

.ck_errorArea {

display: none;

}

#ck_success_msg {

padding: 10px 10px 0px;

border: solid 1px #ddd;

background: #eee;

}

.ck_label {

font-size: 14px;

font-weight: bold;

}

.ck_form input[type="text"] {

font-size: 16px;

text-align: center;

margin-top: 20px;

margin-bottom: 0px;

padding: 8px 8px;

width: 100%;

border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */

-moz-border-radius: 4px;

-webkit-border-radius: 4px;

border-radius: 30px; /* border radius */

background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */

height: auto;

}

.ck_form input[type="email"] {

font-size: 16px;

text-align: center;

margin-top: 0px;

margin-bottom: 15px;

padding: 8px 8px;

width: 100%;

border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */

-moz-border-radius: 4px;

-webkit-border-radius: 4px;

border-radius: 30px; /* border radius */

background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */

height: auto;

}

.ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus {

outline: none;

border-color: #aaa;

}

.ck_checkbox {

padding: 10px 0px 10px 20px;

display: block;

clear: both;

}

.ck_checkbox input.optIn {

margin-left: -20px;

margin-top: 0;

}

.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt {

margin-left: 4px;

}

.ck_form .ck_opt_in_prompt p {

display: inline;

}

.ck_form .ck_subscribe_button {

width: 100%;

color: #fff;

margin: 0px 0px 0px;

padding: 8px 8px;

font-size: 18px;

background: #c83232;

-moz-border-radius: 4px;

-webkit-border-radius: 4px;

border-radius: 30px; /* border radius */

cursor: pointer;

border: none;

text-shadow: none;

}

.ck_form .ck_guarantee {

color: #626262;

font-size: 12px;

text-align: center;

padding: 5px 0px;

display: block;

}

.ck_form .ck_powered_by {

display: block;

color: #aaa;

}

.ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover {

display: block;

color: #444;

}

.ck_converted_content {

display: none;

padding: 5%;

background: #fff;

}

/* v6 */

.ck_form_v6 #ck_success_msg {

padding: 0px 10px;

}

@media all and (max-width: 403px) {

.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {

top: 30px;

}

}

@media all and (min-width: 404px) and (max-width: 499px) {

.ck_form_v6.ck_modal .ck_close_link {

top: 57px;

}

}   PODCASTListen below, or on any podcast app.