Hemiolic

/hɛmiˈoʊlɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or characterized by a hemiolia, a specific type of rhythmic pattern in music.

Etymology

From hemiolia (Greek hemi- + -olia) + -ic (adjectival suffix), describing something that exhibits the properties of a hemiolic rhythmic pattern.

Kelly Says

When a jazz drummer suddenly plays a hemiolic fill over a steady beat, it sounds like they're slightly ahead or behind but actually perfectly calculated—it's a way to refresh a listener's sense of pulse.

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