cross-rhythm

Cross-rhythm occurs when two or more rhythmic patterns with different subdivisions or groupings are played simultaneously, creating a tension between competing pulses. The simplest example is "three against two" (a triplet pattern against a duple pattern), but cross-rhythms can involve far more complex ratios. Unlike polyrhythm, which implies multiple independent metric frameworks, cross-rhythm typically operates within a single meter, creating internal tension rather than metric ambiguity. West African drumming is the richest source of cross-rhythmic practice, where master drummers layer patterns of different lengths and accentuations to create textures of extraordinary complexity and vitality. This tradition directly influenced jazz (through the African diaspora), Cuban and Brazilian music, and, through those genres, virtually all contemporary popular music. The characteristic "swing" feel of jazz — where a triplet subdivision conflicts with a duple beat — is essentially a cross-rhythm embedded in the music's DNA.