Pulse, rhythm and ostinato

In the picture

1. 1Steady pulse: even beats, all the same distance apart
2. 2Rhythm: long and short sounds with uneven gaps
3. 3Ostinato: the same short pattern repeated over and over

Examples

• When you walk while chatting, your footsteps keep a steady pulse while your words make a changing rhythm.
• A bass line that plays the same few notes under a whole song is an ostinato.

Quiz: Pulse, rhythm and ostinato (Age 11)

1. 1

   Which of these describes the pulse of a piece of music?

   • Long and short sounds with uneven gaps
   • Even beats, all the same distance apart
   • A short pattern repeated over and over
2. 2

   What is an ostinato?

   • A long tune that never repeats itself
   • A short pattern repeated many times in a row
   • The steady beat that never changes speed
3. 3

   What happens to the pulse as a piece of music goes on?

   • It stays steady and never speeds up or slows down
   • It mixes long and short beats
   • It gets faster when the music gets exciting

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This quiz is free there while the lesson is in the free week.