K- Metronome - Metronome App to practice rhythmical complexities (polypulse, polyhythm, polymeter)

monkdream

Announcing kmetronome.com a free web metronome practice(!) app which can also be downloaded for iOS and Android. The app is inspired by the methodology in Rafael Reina's book, Applying Karnatic (South-Indian) Rhythmical Techniques to Western Music (Routledge, 2015). I've been studying for several years now with R. Reina while following the program at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

The app features a help section and has built-in tutorials:

• Tuplets, or pulse divisions (gatis), ranging from 3 to 13
• Gati phrasing (tuplet randomisation)
• Tuplet groupings or accents applied to tuplets (jathis)
• Jathi fade feature (to practice groupings or advanced polyrhythm chains)
• Nested tuplets (tuplets over tuplets)
• Flexible user sequence design based on numbers, paving the way for various creative approaches to practicing (jathi bhedam and yati phrases)
• Polyrhythm chains e.g. 4:5 5:3 20:3 (anuloma pratiloma)
• Help Section
• Video tutorials and how-tos
• Keyboard shortcuts

Discussions about terms like polyrhythms, polypulse, and polymeter occasionally surface in various music-related forums. While there are debates on creative applications, there's often imprecision concerning the exact meanings of these terms. The South-Indian approach, rich in its complexity, covers most, if not all, of these concepts. Note that K-metronome focuses mainly on the application of these techniques to Western music so while some Indian terminology is used, out of respect for the depth of Karnatic and Hindustani traditions, the app does not claim to represent or teach these systems.

Posting this here on audiobus because it seems that many sequencers, both hardware and software, lack flexibility when it comes to more complex rhythmic features, especially when compared to music notation software like Dorico. Even innovative apps like Drambo appear limited in polyrhythmic or polypulse capabilities (some notable exceptions would be of course apps like Atom 2, polybeat and others, but mostly plugin based). Would also be interesting to contrast the the cyclical euclidian approach to rhythms here.

More info: peckels.com/projects/kmetronome/

Feedback is greatly appreciated. This is a work in progress, and I plan to add more features over the coming months.

HotStrange

I saw this last night and was curious about it. I’ll test it out and see how it goes

Blipsford_Baubie

THANK YOU. Concerning riddims, I have bookmarks scattered across the Internet. As a westerner who is curious about African and Indian traditional music, in my searches, I have found that the understanding of Indian rhythms to be much more elusive. I’m under the impression it’s because westerners are accustomed to mathematical explanations, whereas with Indian rhythms, there are syllables, perhaps lack of a better word.

I really look forward to exploring this app, and perhaps some more resources suggested by you.

[Edit] I found already a number of resources inside your app 🙂👍
For me, It was listening to tablas by a solo skilled player, or small percussive two or three person ensembles which have sparked my interest. Something like Punjabi also comes to mind.

monkdream

Hello Baubie, you can checkout Rafael Reina's book Applying Karnatic Rhythmical Techniques to Western Music for a rich overview into the South-Indian approach to rhythm. One of the players in the recorded audio examples is Manjunath B.C., he has youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHtgWk6UCtVU9je-GD9P1A

Blipsford_Baubie

@monkdream
I no longer get any sound from the metronome . Maybe it happened when I updated from iOS 15? Not sure. I deleted and reinstalled. Still no sound.

16.7.2
iPhone SE2

monkdream

Hello, it should be working fine if it works in your browser: https://kmetronome.com/
Sorry to ask this question but it still happens to me … you’re iphone mute switch is off, yes?

Blipsford_Baubie

@monkdream said:
Hello, it should be working fine if it works in your browser: https://kmetronome.com/
Sorry to ask this question but it still happens to me … you’re iphone mute switch is off, yes?

Correct, my phone switch was muted 🤦‍♂️

It’s a life style choice, to silence the infernal notifications. Only calls from my family are audible.

That aside I’m excited, for after months of body-tapping a few basic polys and also a couple of the cross-rhythms that I learned from the affiliated Percussion Tutor app, I’m awaiting the arrival of my first percussion Instrument, an 8” djembe that will be a nice size for my little son to play, and also a decent size and quieter way for me to hold and practice/play it like a doumbek/darbuka.

Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr

@Blipsford_Baubie said:

That aside I’m excited, for after months of body-tapping a few basic polys and also a couple of the cross-rhythms that I learned from the affiliated Percussion Tutor app, I’m awaiting the arrival of my first percussion Instrument, an 8” djembe that will be a nice size for my little son to play, and also a decent size and quieter way for me to hold and practice/play it like a doumbek/darbuka.

If you get noise complaints, I'd suggest a caxixi or two. They are inexpensive, very fun and rewarding, and perhaps the most quiet of percussion instruments.

Blipsford_Baubie

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:

@Blipsford_Baubie said:

That aside I’m excited, for after months of body-tapping a few basic polys and also a couple of the cross-rhythms that I learned from the affiliated Percussion Tutor app, I’m awaiting the arrival of my first percussion Instrument, an 8” djembe that will be a nice size for my little son to play, and also a decent size and quieter way for me to hold and practice/play it like a doumbek/darbuka.

If you get noise complaints, I'd suggest a caxixi or two. They are inexpensive, very fun and rewarding, and perhaps the most quiet of percussion instruments.

I appreciate your suggestion, W2BG. I didn’t know of caxixis. Coincidentally, I had decided that the next time I have the urge to buy a $15 dollar app, I will instead be buying a pair of asalatos/kashakas. They seem related to caxixi, in that they’re both a shaker. I imagine asalato are louder due to when the balls collide, but fortunately (?) I’m a homeowner. I’m not worried about noise complaints from neighbors, just a consideration for my family.