African music, Japanese drumming, funk, and electronic music has one underlying similarity and that is patterns.
Mathematics and music have been intimately intertwined since the days of Pythagoras. There is a new theory and mathmatical musical trend happening right now that uses the Euclidean Algorithm to generate musical rhythms. The Euclidean Algorithm has been used in timing systems in neutron accelerators and can also generate some amazing beats.
It’s a simple and awesome tool in beat creation. Read more about the theory at http://www.hisschemoller.com/2011/euclidean-rhythms/
Something that brings it to the next level is this free Euclidean rhythm generator that can send over midi!
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Using Euclidean Rythms
Once you get the free Java tool or app you can start creating new layers of math. The key in creation with this sort of thing is to have all the peices fold back into each other.
So for instance if you have a 4/4 beat to start and layer it with a 6/8 pattern then on the third 4/4 they meet back up and that should be when your melody modulates and re starts. There are lots of other option. I tried implementing the golden ration to this and got something really cool.
Take a bass pattern of 7/4 with an accented stab, like guitar, on a 7/3. Then have the next division up on the golden ratio of 11 be the high hat. so I did 11/7 on that. Creates a really strange pattern that is non traditional.
Playing with these tools in create cool mathematical based rhythms leads to great modulations and interesting patterns.
Sequencer in Live
Thanks to this rad site you can also get a Max for Live plug in of a Euclidean Sequencer.
