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Hemiola

Definition

Hemiola is a rhythmic technique where two groups of three beats are played as if they were three groups of two beats. It creates an illusion of shifting meter within a piece of music.

Related terms

Triple Meter: Triple meter refers to music that is organized into groups of three beats per measure.

Duple Meter: Duple meter refers to music that is organized into groups of two beats per measure.

Compound Meter: Compound meter refers to meters where each beat can be divided into three equal parts, creating a sense of complexity and intricacy in rhythm.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.