This is a site dedicated to all things rhythm, from the rhythms to the performers and as much as possible in between. Rhythm is everywhere, on every continent, within every single human tradition, there is rhythm in there somewhere. This is a respectful attempt to consolidate and bring together as many of them as possible within a lifetime, all while trying to figure out why they are what they are.

These rhythms are all born of real people and cultures, and it is impossible to separate the two. This is why there are profile pages on countries, peoples, languages, various different musical traditions, animals, and more than a few stories. You can’t understand a rhythm fully without understanding why it is being played. When you see a description or a transcription of a rhythm, please remember that it is only a generalisation, an attempt to understand what is happening, but the only real way to get there is by really listening and understanding why the rhythm is being played.

This site will constantly be expanding, with new material and updates to existing posts happening regularly, so please check back often. You will come across “password protected” pages, especially in the early going. That usually just means it is under construction, but they will be up shortly. Also, discographies, credits, etc will sometimes be incomplete, they are a work in progress and will be updated as we get to them.

Finally, this site is not written by experts, or musicologists, or any type of authority on music or ethnomusicology. It is a learning journey by fans of the subject matter. With this in mind, please be patient as new information is absorbed and incorporated into these pages.

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