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There are two main categories of rhythm depending on how each beat is subdivided. The most common division is called straight where each beat is divided equally into one, two or four parts.

Straight

 

Swing

Swing involves an unequal division but usually retains an equal number of notes. Swing involves breaking each beat into triplets and then omitting the middle one so that there are eight notes per bar (in 4/4) but not eight even notes. They become grouped into two’s. An easy way to remember the difference between straight and swing is to visualise these movements:

  • Marching suits straight as it is even.

  • Skipping suits swing as the grouping into two's becomes apparent.

    Reading Swing

    There are a few different ways in which swing is interpreted in notation. Since swung 8ths are based on triplets, the notes could be written as:

    Most often charts are written as straight 8th’s, but played with the swing feel. A common symbol used to indicate swing is in the example below. This symbol indicates that straight 8th’s are to be played like a quarter note and an eighth note in a triplet bracket:

    This would mean that the music for the straight example could actually be used for the swing example as well, just played and counted with a swing feel/swing 8th’s.

    Another way swing 8th’s have been notated is with a dotted 8th & a 16th. This idea also tries to imitate the long-short feel of swing and is predominantly used in older publications. It is important to know this so you don’t waste time practicing say a Ragtime tune with a 16th subdivision which may not give you the right feel.

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