Music Theory
Understanding beats, rhythm, and BPM
Why Learn Music Theory?
While Rhythm Doctor can be played by intuition, understanding basic music theory helps you master complex rhythms, especially with tempo changes and polyrhythms.
Beat
A beat is the basic unit of time in music, appearing regularly like a heartbeat. In Rhythm Doctor, you press on the 7th beat.
Downbeat - The first beat of each measure, usually most prominent
Upbeat - Beats between downbeats
Offbeat - Positions between expected beats
BPM
BPM (Beats Per Minute) indicates the number of beats per minute, determining music tempo.
60-90 BPM - Slow, good for beginners
90-120 BPM - Medium, most pop music
120-160 BPM - Fast, requires quicker reactions
160+ BPM - Very fast, high difficulty
Tip: Use our BPM Tapper tool to feel different tempos
4/4Time Signature
Time signature tells you how many beats per measure. Rhythm Doctor uses a 7-beat system, but actual music varies.
4/4
4/4 - Most common, 4 beats per measure
3/4
3/4 - Waltz rhythm, 3 beats per measure
6/8
6/8 - Compound meter, has swing feel
Rhythm Patterns
Straight
Equal intervals between each beat. This is the most basic rhythm pattern.
Swing
Uneven intervals between beats, alternating long and short, creating a 'bouncy' feel. Common in jazz.
Syncopation
Accents fall on unexpected positions, breaking regular rhythm sense.
Polyrhythm
Two or more different rhythms occurring simultaneously. In Rhythm Doctor, this means tracking multiple heartbeat lines.
Tip: Master the main rhythm first, let the other become background
Practice Tips
- 1Use our Beat Trainer to feel different BPMs
- 2Try tapping along to music with your hand
- 3When listening to songs, try to identify time signature and rhythm pattern
- 4Start with slow songs, gradually challenge faster tempos