Musical Elements: Tempo, Metre and Rhythm

The elements of Tempo, Metre and Rhythm form an essential part of how music is structured, functioning as a framework onto which melodies, harmonies and other musical elements are layered.
Tempo is the speed at which music is played. It can be denoted with an exact beats per minute (bpm) value or with terms like adagio (slow) or presto (fast).
Metre is the pattern of strong and weak beats in a bar. It provides structure and helps to understand rhythmic patterns.
Rhythm is the distribution of notes and rests (silences) in time. It is essentially the timing of the musical sounds and silences.

There are two main types of metre: duple (two beats in a bar), and triple (three beats in a bar).
Other types include quadruple (four beats), quintuple (five beats) and sextuple (six beats), although these are less common.
Additionally, metre can be either simple (where each beat divides evenly into two) or compound (where each beat divides into three).

Composers can manipulate tempo to create different moods and effects. Faster tempos might indicate joy or excitement, while slower tempos might evoke sadness or calm.
Changes in tempo can also signal structural changes in a piece of music. For example, a slight slowing down, or ritardando, might precede a final cadence.
Tempo rubato is another technique used by performers where strict timing is abandoned for a more expressive, flexible interpretation of the music.

Rhythms can consist of a mixture of different note values (from whole notes to sixteenth notes and beyond) and rests.
A syncopated rhythm emphasizes off-beat notes or ‘weak’ beats, creating tension or excitement in the music.
Polyrhythms are more complex, featuring two or more different rhythms performed simultaneously. These are common in African and Indian music, also found in Western Classical music.

Tempo, metre, and rhythm conventions can vary greatly between different musical styles.
For example, jazz often features swing rhythm, and tempo can be quite fluid in Romantic era classical music.
Many electronic and dance music genres have a steady, relentless tempo and 4/4 metre, while traditional waltz music has a distinctive 3/4 (triple) metre.