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At its core, rhythm refers to the length and pattern of sounds and silence over time. It provides the pulse of a musical piece, enabling us to grasp a song's structure and feel. Even when notes are played incorrectly, a strong rhythm can keep a melody recognizable. Conversely, even perfectly played notes can sound unrecognizable if the rhythm is off.
Understanding rhythm begins with recognizing the beat— the basic pulse that flows steadily through music. The beat can be subdivided into lengths shorter than it, or extended into longer sounds. These subdivisions and extensions create the intricate web that makes up musical patterns.