The Mathematics of Rhythm

Arts and Music · 10 questions

Ten questions on meter, note durations, syncopation, and rhythmic ratios.

Answer each question first, then check with “Show the answer”. You can also play the same quiz in the Quizera app by searching for it in Explore, as a live game, a test or flashcards.

1. In 4/4, with the quarter note as the beat unit, how many beats are in one measure?

   1. 2
   2. 3
   3. 4
   4. 6
   Show the answer

   C) 4

2. What ratio of its original duration does a dotted note have?

   1. 1.5 times
   2. 2 times
   3. 1.25 times
   4. 3 times
   Show the answer

   A) 1.5 times

3. In 4/4, each note in an eighth-note triplet fitting one quarter-note beat lasts what fraction of the beat?

   1. 1/4
   2. 2/3
   3. 1/3
   4. 1/2
   Show the answer

   C) 1/3

4. At 120 quarter-note beats per minute, how many seconds separate consecutive beats?

   1. 0.5 seconds
   2. 0.25 seconds
   3. 0.75 seconds
   4. 1 second
   Show the answer

   A) 0.5 seconds

5. In compound meter, into how many equal subdivisions is a dotted-quarter main beat usually divided?

   1. 4
   2. 3
   3. 2
   4. 5
   Show the answer

   B) 3

6. If the eighth-note pulse is 240 per minute, how long does a measure of seven eighth notes last?

   1. 1.75 seconds
   2. 1.5 seconds
   3. 2.25 seconds
   4. 2 seconds
   Show the answer

   A) 1.75 seconds

7. In a triplet-based approximate swing count, what is the duration ratio for a pair of eighth notes of equal written value?

   1. 1 unit for each note
   2. 2 units for the first, 1 for the second
   3. 1 unit for the first, 2 for the second
   4. 2 units for each note
   Show the answer

   B) 2 units for the first, 1 for the second

8. In metric modulation, what is a note value from the previous passage related to in the next passage?

   1. The next passage's time-signature denominator
   2. The next passage's tonal center
   3. The next passage's interval structure
   4. The next passage's tempo unit
   Show the answer

   D) The next passage's tempo unit

9. In syncopation, where is an accent typically heard instead of on an expected strong beat?

   1. On the next measure's first beat
   2. At the start of every beat
   3. Only at the end of the measure
   4. On a weak beat or offbeat
   Show the answer

   D) On a weak beat or offbeat

10. What is it called when two musical parts use different meters at the same time?

    1. Monorhythm
    2. Polyrhythm
    3. Homophony
    4. Polymeter
    Show the answer

    D) Polymeter