Simple Rhythms Guide

This document is a quick study and lookup table for repeating beat sequences with a length
between 9 and 16 beats. This guide was designed with hardware step sequencers in mind.

The beats are a two dimensional sequence that could more easily be thought of as a time
keeping pattern, that you would use as a rhythmic basis for further percussive variaton.

As an example, you may decide to use these patterns as a hi-hat sequence, which you would
then improvise kick/snare/tom patterns over the top of.

The sets have been limited to those which conform to my own personal interpretation of the
methods used in Godfried Toussaint's book “The Geometry of Musical Rhythm”, which include
limitations on the amount of beats in a sequence, rough guidelines as to the more desirable
spacing of beats, and many other concepts that are far beyond the scope of this quick lookup
guide to explain in full detail.

All the the beat sequences in this guide have a beat length guide, a name where applicable, as
well as some quick lookup tables to quickly ascertain the various properties of the sequence.
These tables are ommitted where they are not relevant or the measure is too complex for the
Implied concept to be recognised. These values have the following madeup labels.

Sequence Property Table Descriptions

Rhythmic Oddity
Rhythmic oddity is a property where beat has no diametrically opposed beats, which can also
be described as having a beat exactly half the length the beat across from any other beat.
A beat that contains this property means that the full length of the sequence is used to as full
affect as possible to contain unique information along the course of the sequence.
For every beat where there exists a diametrically opposed pair, a negative number is used to
show how far ”away” a beat is from containing the 'rhythmic oddity' property.
Note that non symmetrical beat patterns cannot contain this property since the beat sequence
will not divide into two seperate halves.

Tertiary Beats
Tertiary beats is a jargon term that I use to describe beats that conform to the most simple pulse
divisions of a sequence, but not including the very first/initial beat itself, this property provides a
quick way to visualise how ”regular” and ”non syncopated” a beat will sound

Offbeat Weight
Offbeat Weight is a jargon term that I use to describe beats that fall off or out of the most simple
pulse division of a beat, this property provides a quick way to visualise how much ”syncopation”
a sequence will contain.
For sequences that have an uneven division, only the odd numbers counts off the first few beats are
counted since the beat may have several non apparent ways to resolve the sequence. Since the
“on” and ”off” beats may become ambigious later in the rhythmic cycle depending on the content.

Strong Endbeat
Strong endbeat is a jargon term I use to describe whether the pattern contain a beat at the right
place in order to make the “end” of the sequence very clear and resolved. This happens when a
beat falls on the last simple pulse division of a beat.

Note that the 12 Step sequence contains two sets of steady pulse divisions, and has a seperate
lookup table for the tertiary/offbeat/endbeat properties for each.
 16 Step Patterns
Shiko X X X X X 42424 -1 2 T
Timini X X X X X 24244 -1 2 T
Müsem-men X X X X X 42442 -1 1
Kromanti X X X X X 24424 -1 1 T
Lolo X X X X X 44242 T -1 2
Son X X X X X 33424 T T 1 1 T
34243 X X X X X 34243 T 4
42433 X X X X X 42433 T 1 1
24334 X X X X X 24334 T 1 1 T
43342 X X X X X 43342 T 1 1
Rumba X X X X X 34324 T 1 2 T
43243 X X X X X 43243 T 1 3
32434 X X X X X 32434 T 1 3 T
24343 X X X X X 24343 T 2
43432 X X X X X 43432 T 1 2
Soukous X X X X X 33415 T -1 2
34153 X X X X X 34153 -1 1 3
41533 X X X X X 41533 -1 1 2
53341 X X X X X 53341 -1 1 3
Gahu X X X X X 33442 T -1 1
34423 X X X X X 34423 -1 4
44233 X X X X X 44233 T -1 2 1
42334 X X X X X 42334 -1 2 1 T
23344 X X X X X 23344 -1 2 1 T
Bossa Nova X X X X X 33433 T T 2
34333 X X X X X 34333 T 3
43333 X X X X X 43333 T 1 2
33334 X X X X X 33334 T T 1 2 T
33343 X X X X X 33343 T T 3
44422 X X X X X 44422 T -2 3 T
44224 X X X X X 44224 T -2 3 T
42244 X X X X X 42244 -2 3 T
22444 X X X X X 22444 T -2 3 T
24442 X X X X X 24442 -2
34342 X X X X X 34342 T 2
43423 X X X X X 43423 T 1 3
34234 X X X X X 34234 T 1 3 T
42343 X X X X X 42343 T 1 2
23434 X X X X X 23434 T 1 2 T
44332 X X X X X 44332 T -1 2 1
43324 X X X X X 43324 -1 2 1 T
33244 X X X X X 33244 T -1 2 1 T
32443 X X X X X 32443 -1 4
24433 X X X X X 24433 -1 1
Pulse /4 X X X X 4444
Repeat Start
Rhythmic Oddity
Tertiary Beats
Offbeat Weight
Strong Endbeat
 15 Step Patterns
4443 X X X X 4443 T
4434 X X X X 4434 T
4344 X X X X 4344
3444 X X X X 3444
5433 X X X X 5433
4335 X X X X 4335
3354 X X X X 3354 T
3543 X X X X 3543
5343 X X X X 5343
3435 X X X X 3435
4353 X X X X 4353
3534 X X X X 3534
4533 X X X X 4533
5334 X X X X 5334
3345 X X X X 3345 T
3453 X X X X 3453
5532 X X X X 5532 T T
5325 X X X X 5325
3255 X X X X 3255
2553 X X X X 2553
5352 X X X X 5352 T
3525 X X X X 3525
5253 X X X X 5253
2535 X X X X 2535
5523 X X X X 5523 T
5235 X X X X 5235
2355 X X X X 2355
3552 X X X X 3552 T
44322 X X X X X 44322 T T
43224 X X X X X 43224
32244 X X X X X 32244
22443 X X X X X 22443 T
24432 X X X X X 24432 T
44223 X X X X X 44223 T
42234 X X X X X 42234
22344 X X X X X 22344 T
23442 X X X X X 23442 T
34422 X X X X X 34422 T
43422 X X X X X 43422 T
34224 X X X X X 34224
42243 X X X X X 42243
22434 X X X X X 22434 T
24342 X X X X X 24342 T
44232 X X X X X 44232 T T
42324 X X X X X 42324
23244 X X X X X 23244
32442 X X X X X 32442 T
24423 X X X X X 24423
43332 X X X X X 43332 T
33324 X X X X X 33324 T
33243 X X X X X 33243 T
32433 X X X X X 32433
24333 X X X X X 24333
34332 X X X X X 34332 T
43323 X X X X X 43323
33234 X X X X X 33234 T
32343 X X X X X 32343
23433 X X X X X 23433
32334 X X X X X 32334
23343 X X X X X 23343
33432 X X X X X 33432 T T
34323 X X X X X 34323
43233 X X X X X 43233
42333 X X X X X 42333
23334 X X X X X 23334 T
33342 X X X X X 33342 T T
33423 X X X X X 33423 T T
34233 X X X X X 34233
Pulse /5 X X X X X 33333
Pulse /3 X X X 555
Repeat Start
Strong Endbeat
 14 Step Patterns
4343 X X X X 4343 -2 3
3434 X X X X 3434 -2 1 2
3344 X X X X 3344 T -1 2
3443 X X X X 3443 -1 2 1
4433 X X X X 4433 T -1 2 1
4334 X X X X 4334 -1 2 1
22343 X X X X X 22343 T -2 4
23432 X X X X X 23432 -2 2 2 T
34322 X X X X X 34322 -2 1 3 T
43223 X X X X X 43223 -2 4
32234 X X X X X 32234 -2 1 3
22433 X X X X X 22433 T -1 3 1
24332 X X X X X 24332 -1 2 1 T
43322 X X X X X 43322 -1 2 2 T
33224 X X X X X 33224 -1 3
32243 X X X X X 32243 -1 2 2
24233 X X X X X 24233 T 2 1
42332 X X X X X 42332 T 2 1 T
23324 X X X X X 23324 T 1 3
33242 X X X X X 33242 T T 3 T
32423 X X X X X 32423 T 2 2
33422 X X X X X 33422 T T 3 T
34223 X X X X X 34223 T 4 1
42233 X X X X X 42233 T 2 1
22334 X X X X X 22334 T T 4 1
23342 X X X X X 23342 T 1 3 T
23333 X X X X X 23333 T 2 2
33332 X X X X X 33332 T T 1 2 T
33323 X X X X X 33323 T T 2 1
33233 X X X X X 33233 T T 1 2
32333 X X X X X 32333 T 1 3
22244 X X X X X 22244 T T 2 1
22442 X X X X X 22442 T T 2 2 T
24422 X X X X X 24422 T 1 2 T
44222 X X X X X 44222 T T 1 3 T
42224 X X X X X 42224 T 1 2
22424 X X X X X 22424 T T 2 2
24242 X X X X X 24242 T 1 2 T
42422 X X X X X 42422 T 1 2 T
24224 X X X X X 24224 T 1 2
42242 X X X X X 42242 T 1 2 T
Repeat Start
Rhythmic Oddity
Tertiary Beats
Offbeat Weight
Strong Endbeat
 13 Step Patterns
X X X X 4432 T T X X X X X 43321 1
X X X X 4324 2 X X X X X 33214 T 2
X X X X 3244 3 X X X X X 32143 2
X X X X 2443 X X X X X 21433 2
X X X X 4342 1 T X X X X X 43312 1 T
X X X X 3424 3 X X X X X 33124 T 3
X X X X 4243 X X X X X 31243 1
X X X X 2434 1 X X X X X 24331 1
X X X X 4423 T X X X X X 43231 2
X X X X 4234 1 X X X X X 32314 3
X X X X 2344 2 X X X X X 23143 1
X X X X 3442 2 T X X X X X 31432 1 T
X X X X 3334 T 2 X X X X X 43213 2
X X X X 3343 T 1 X X X X X 32134 3
X X X X 3433 2 X X X X X 21343 1
X X X X 4333 1 X X X X X 34321 2
X X X X 5422 2 T X X X X X 42331 1
X X X X 4225 X X X X X 23314 2
X X X X 2254 T 1 X X X X X 33142 T 2 T
X X X X 2542 1 T X X X X X 31423 1
X X X X 5242 2 T X X X X X 42313 1
X X X X 2425 X X X X X 23134 2
X X X X 4252 T X X X X X 31342 2 T
X X X X 2524 2 X X X X X 34231 3
X X X X 4522 1 T X X X X X 42133 1
X X X X 5224 3 X X X X X 21334 2
X X X X 2245 X X X X X 33421 T 1
X X X X 2452 T X X X X X 34213 3
X X X X 5332 1 T X X X X X 43123 1
X X X X 3325 T 1 X X X X X 31234 2
X X X X 3253 2 X X X X X 23431 2
X X X X 2533 1 X X X X X 34312 2 T
X X X X 5323 1 X X X X X 43132 1 T
X X X X 3235 2 X X X X X 31324 3
X X X X 2353 1 X X X X X 32431 3
X X X X 3532 1 T X X X X X 24313 1
X X X X 5233 2 X X X X X 43222 2 T
X X X X 2335 1 X X X X X 32224 4
X X X X 3352 1 T X X X X X 22243 T
X X X X 3523 1 X X X X X 22432 T T
X X X X X 33322 T 2 T X X X X X 24322 1 T
X X X X X 33223 T 1 X X X X X 42322 1 T
X X X X X 32233 3 X X X X X 23224 3
X X X X X 22333 T 1 X X X X X 32242 3 T
X X X X X 23332 1 T X X X X X 22423
X X X X X 32332 2 T X X X X X 24232 T
X X X X X 23323 1 X X X X X 32422 3 T
X X X X X 33232 T 1 T X X X X X 24223
X X X X X 32323 2 X X X X X 42232 T
X X X X X 23233 2 X X X X X 22324 T 2
X X X X X 33331 T 2 X X X X X 23242 2 T
X X X X X 33313 T 2 X X X X X 34222 3 T
X X X X X 33133 T 2 X X X X X 42223
X X X X X 31333 2 X X X X X 22234 T 1
Repeat Start X X X X X 22342 T 1 T
Offbeat Weight X X X X X 23422 2 T
Strong Endbeat Repeat Start
Offbeat Weight
Strong Endbeat
 12 Step Patterns

Fume-fume X X X X X 22323 T T 3 T 1 2
Morocco Bell X X X X X 23232 T 4 2
Macedonian X X X X X 32322 T 1 3 1 2 T
Columbia X X X X X 23223 T 3 T 3
Bemba Bell X X X X X 32232 T 1 3 3
Bembé X X X X X X X 2212221 T -1 5 T 1 4
Bemba X X X X X X X 2122212 -1 1 4 T 4
Bondo Bell X X X X X X X 1222122 -1 1 5 1 4 T F
Tambu X X X X X X X 2221221 T -1 1 4 T 1 3
Yoruba X X X X X X X 2212212 T -1 5 T 1 3
Danumba X X X X X X X 2122122 -1 1 5 1 3 T
Ghana Clap X X X X X X X 1221222 -1 2 4 1 3 T F
Guajira X X X X X 33222 T -1 2 2 1 1 T
32223 X X X X X 32223 -1 1 2 T 4
22233 X X X X X 22233 T -1 1 2 T 1 1
Seguiriya X X X X X 22332 T -1 4 1 1
23322 X X X X X 23322 -1 4 1 1 T
Tonada X X X X X X X 2121222 -2 2 4 1 2 T
1212222 X X X X X X X 1212222 -2 2 4 2 2 T F
2122221 X X X X X X X 2122221 -2 1 4 T 5
Al-Ramal X X X X X X X 2222121 T -2 1 4 T 2 2 T
Asaadua X X X X X X X 2221212 T -2 1 4 T 1 2
2212122 X X X X X X X 2212122 T -2 6 2 2 T
Sorsonet X X X X X X X 1122222 T -3 1 5 2 1 T F
2222211 X X X X X X X 2222211 T -3 1 5 2 1 T
Kitāb al-adwār X X X X X X X 2222112 T -3 1 4 T 2 1 T
2221122 X X X X X X X 2221122 T -3 1 5 2 1 T
2211222 X X X X X X X 2211222 T -3 1 5 2 1 T
Polonaise X X X X X X X 2112222 -3 2 4 2 1 T
Pulse /3 X X X 444
Pulse /4 X X X X 3333
Repeat Start
Rhythmic Oddity
P/4 Tertiary Beats
P/4 Offbeat Weight
P/4 Strong Endbeat
P/6 Tertiary Beats
P/6 Offbeat Weight
P/6 Strong Endbeat
False Start
 11 Step Patterns
X X X X 3332 T 1 T X X X X X 33221 T 1
X X X X 3323 T 1 X X X X X 32213 3
X X X X 3233 2 X X X X X 22133 T 1
X X X X 2333 1 X X X X X 21332 1 T
X X X X 4322 1 T X X X X X 33212 T 1 T
X X X X 3224 3 X X X X X 32123 2
X X X X 2243 T 1 X X X X X 21233 2
X X X X 2432 T X X X X X 23321 1
X X X X 4232 T X X X X X 33122 T 2 T
X X X X 2324 2 X X X X X 31223 1
X X X X 3242 2 T X X X X X 22331 T 1
X X X X 2423 X X X X X 23312 1 T
X X X X 3422 2 T X X X X X 31322 2 T
X X X X 4223 X X X X X 32231 3
X X X X 2234 T 1 X X X X X 22313 T 1
X X X X 2342 1 T X X X X X 23132 1 T
X X X X X 32222 3 T X X X X X 42221
X X X X X 22223 T X X X X X 22214 T 1
X X X X X 22232 T T X X X X X 22142 T 1 T
X X X X X 22322 T 1 T X X X X X 21422 2 T
X X X X X 23222 2 T X X X X X 41222 2 T
X X X X 5222 2 T X X X X X 22241 T
X X X X 2225 T X X X X X 22412 T T
X X X X 2252 T T X X X X X 24122 T
X X X X 2522 1 T X X X X X 42212 T
X X X X 4421 T X X X X X 22124 T 2
X X X X 4214 1 X X X X X 21242 2 T
X X X X 2144 2 X X X X X 24221
X X X X 4241 X X X X X 42122 1 T
X X X X 2414 1 X X X X X 21224 3
X X X X 4142 1 T X X X X X 22421 T
X X X X 4412 T T X X X X X 24212 T
X X X X 4124 2 X X X X X 33311 T 1 T
X X X X 2441 X X X X X 33113 T 2
X X X X X 32222 3 T X X X X X 31133 2
X X X X X 22223 T X X X X X 31331 2
X X X X X 22232 T T X X X X X 33131 T 2
X X X X X 22322 T 1 T X X X X X 31313 2
X X X X X 23222 2 T Repeat Start
Repeat Start Offbeat Weight
Offbeat Weight Strong Endbeat
Strong Endbeat
 10 Step Patterns
3322 X X X X 3322 T -1 2 1 T
3223 X X X X 3223 -1 3
2233 X X X X 2233 T -1 2 1
2332 X X X X 2332 -1 2 1 T
3232 X X X X 3232 -2 1 2 T
2323 X X X X 2323 -2 1 2
4222 X X X X 4222 T 3 T
2224 X X X X 2224 T T 3
2242 X X X X 2242 T T 3 T
2422 X X X X 2422 T 3 T
3331 X X X X 3331 T T 1 2
3313 X X X X 3313 T T 1 2
3133 X X X X 3133 T 1 2
4411 X X X X 4411 T -1 2 1 T
4114 X X X X 4114 -1 2 1
4141 X X X X 4141 -2 1 2
5311 X X X X 5311 -1 1 2 T
3115 X X X X 3115 -1 1 2
5131 X X X X 5131 -1 1 2
3151 X X X X 3151 -1 1 2
3511 X X X X 3511 -1 1 2 T
5113 X X X X 5113 -1 1 2
5221 X X X X 5221 -1 3
2215 X X X X 2215 T -1 2 1
2152 X X X X 2152 -1 2 1 T
5212 X X X X 5212 -1 1 2 T
2125 X X X X 2125 -1 1 2
2521 X X X X 2521 -1 1 2
5122 X X X X 5122 -1 2 1 T
2251 X X X X 2251 T -1 2 1
2512 X X X X 2512 -1 2 1 T
4321 X X X X 4321 -1 1 2
3214 X X X X 3214 -1 1 2
2143 X X X X 2143 -1 1 2
4312 X X X X 4312 T 2 1 T
3124 X X X X 3124 T 2 1
2431 X X X X 2431 T 2 1
4231 X X X X 4231 -1 2 1
2314 X X X X 2314 -1 2 1
3142 X X X X 3142 -1 2 1 T
4213 X X X X 4213 T 2 1
2134 X X X X 2134 T 2 1
3421 X X X X 3421 T 3
4123 X X X X 4123 -1 1 2
2341 X X X X 2341 -1 1 2
3412 X X X X 3412 -1 1 2 T
4132 X X X X 4132 -1 2 1 T
3241 X X X X 3241 -1 3
2413 X X X X 2413 -1 2 1
Pulse /5 X X X X X 22222
Repeat Start
Rhythmic Oddity
Tertiary Beats
Offbeat Weight
Strong Endbeat
 9 Step Patterns
3222 X X X X 3222 1 2
2223 X X X X 2223 T 1 2 T
2232 X X X X 2232 T 3
2322 X X X X 2322 3
4221 X X X X 4221 1 2 T
2214 X X X X 2214 T 3
2142 X X X X 2142 1 2
4212 X X X X 4212 1 2 T
2124 X X X X 2124 1 2
2421 X X X X 2421 1 2 T
2214 X X X X 2214 T 3
2142 X X X X 2142 1 2
3321 X X X X 3321 T 2 1 T
3213 X X X X 3213 2 1 T
2133 X X X X 2133 2 1 T
3231 X X X X 3231 1 2
2313 X X X X 2313 1 2 T
3132 X X X X 3132 1 2
3312 X X X X 3312 T 2 1 T
3123 X X X X 3123 2 1 T
2331 X X X X 2331 3
4311 X X X X 4311 3
3114 X X X X 3114 1 2
4131 X X X X 4131 3
3141 X X X X 3141 1 2
3411 X X X X 3411 1 2
4113 X X X X 4113 1 2 T
32211 X X X X X 32211 1 3
22113 X X X X X 22113 T 1 3 T
21132 X X X X X 21132 1 3
13221 X X X X X 13221 1 3 T
23211 X X X X X 23211 4
32112 X X X X X 32112 2 2 T
21123 X X X X X 21123 2 2 T
22311 X X X X X 22311 T 4
23112 X X X X X 23112 1 3 T
31122 X X X X X 31122 1 3
22131 X X X X X 22131 T 4
21312 X X X X X 21312 2 2 T
31221 X X X X X 31221 2 2 T
22221 X X X X X 22221 T 1 3
22212 X X X X X 22212 T 1 3 T
22122 X X X X X 22122 T 1 3 T
21222 X X X X X 21222 4
33111 X X X X X 33111 T 2 2 T
31113 X X X X X 31113 2 2 T
31311 X X X X X 31311 1 3
31131 X X X X X 31131 1 3
Pulse /3 X X X 333
Repeat Start
Tertiary Beats
Offbeat Weight
Strong Endbeat