12.7 · Dividing the Beat

Name that rhythm

Strip a song down to claps, no pitches, no chords, just lengths, and you can still name it. Rhythm is a fingerprint, and every fingerprint below is written out in rhythm symbols.

Three fingerprints

Each song appears as claps first, with its rhythm written out. Guess before you reveal.

q q h · q q h: the most clappable chorus alive.
A skipping pickup, then a lilt in three.
Stomp, stomp, clap: the fingerprint needs no melody at all.

Two songs, one rhythm

Twinkle, Twinkle and Mary Had a Little Lamb open with the same rhythm: six even notes and a hold. A fingerprint only works when the lengths are distinctive.

Game · Name that rhythm

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Claps only. Which song is it?

Listen first. Then answer.

Quiz

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Listen to the claps: which song?

Listen first. Then answer.
Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson. A perfect run sticks: a later miss never undoes it.Meet the kit →