THE SAKARI RHYTHM TREE

Rhythm is easy and most music teachers make it very difficult with the traditional
"one e and a two e and a method of counting rhythm out loud.
It is very confusing and I never liked it.
Here is what I call The Rhythm Tree and it is all my method uses for teaching rhythm :
The Metronome is always ticking off quarter note values and here are the definitions of note
values in terms of how many times you play a note to coincide with the ticks. Groups of notes in
between ticks are always equally spaced through time.
For example, with sixteenth notes, you play four times to each tick, equally spaced.
Not.....
Xxxx

Xxxx

Xxxx

Xxxx

But rather......
XxxxXxxxXxxxXxxx
So, as your
Metronome ticks:

You will either

play half notes:

play quarter notes: X

X
x

play eighth notes:

play triplets:

play sixteenths:

X x

play sextuplets:

X x x x x x X x x x xx Xxxx x x X x x x x x

X
x

X
x

x
x

X x x

x
x

X x

X
x

X x x x

X x

x
x

X x x x x

And lastly,
play thirtyseconds: X x x x x x x x X x x x x x x x X x x x x x x X x x x x x x x

Just picture the above image. It's more abstract but more understandable. Remember, no matter
what speed the metronome is ticking, it always ticks quarter notes and the above relationships
remain constant. Youre either playing faster or slower as the case may be.
As always, if you have any questions, e-mail me : info@FirstLightBulbMoment.com
Sakari
www.TheSakariMethod.com For Classical Guitar

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