What subdividing means
To subdivide is to divide each beat into smaller, equal parts, either in your head or out loud. It is a rhythm skill, and it is unrelated to music genres or subgenres, despite what some searches suggest. If a beat is a quarter note, subdividing it into two gives eighth notes, and into four gives sixteenth notes.
Beats and their subdivisions
The beat is the steady pulse you tap your foot to. Subdivisions are the faster, evenly spaced pulses between those beats. Imagine them as an invisible grid. When you play a rhythm, each note lands on a point of this grid, even if you do not play every point.
Counting eighth notes and sixteenth notes
In simple time such as 4/4, common counting syllables are:
- Quarter notes: 1 2 3 4
- Eighth notes: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
- Sixteenth notes: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
Say the syllables aloud steadily, then play only the ones that the written rhythm requires, while still saying all of them.
Triplets and compound time
A triplet divides a beat into three equal parts, counted “1 trip let”. In compound time, such as 6/8, each main beat is naturally divided into three, so it is often counted 1 2 3 4 5 6 with stresses on 1 and 4. Moving between twos and threes is a common stumbling block, so practice both separately before mixing them.
Why subdividing helps
- Rests and long notes are held for the right length, because you keep counting through them.
- Fast notes are more even.
- Tempo is steadier, since you check against a finer grid.
- Syncopation is easier to place.
The same grid is useful when making up music; see improvisation exercises for music and music composition ideas.
Practising with a metronome
- Set the metronome to a slow tempo where you can count comfortably.
- Play a scale (see practicing piano scales) or a simple melody with the click on each beat, counting eighth notes aloud.
- Next, set the click on only beats 2 and 4, or only on beat 1, so that you must hold the subdivisions yourself.
- Raise the tempo gradually once it feels secure.
A simple piano exercise
Play a single note on every subdivision. First play one note per beat, then two, then three (triplets), then four, all at the same tempo. Notice how the speed of the notes changes while the beat remains the same. Then play the exercise with alternating hands. Drummers use the same counting; see drumming tips for beginners.
Common problems
- Rushing short notes: slow down and count more audibly.
- Dropping the count during rests: keep saying or tapping the subdivision.
- Uneven eighth notes: record yourself and compare with the metronome.
- Confusing twos and threes: practice each on its own first.
Rhythm and volume often work together. Once your timing is steady, you can add expression through the importance of dynamics in music. If you decorate melodies with extra notes, as in embellishing tones, good subdivision keeps those quick notes even.