Rhythm Code — 8-Position Grid

Sprint 1 Reference Card  ·  Ain't No Sunshine  ·  AMF Music Education
Section 1 — The Grid Explained

Every measure is divided into 8 equal positions. Each position is either ON (you play) or OFF (silence). This is the binary view of rhythm.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Beat 1
Downbeat
"and 1"
Beat 2
"and 2"
Beat 3
Backbeat
"and 3"
Beat 4
"and 4"
Anticipation
ta
te
ta
te
ta
te
ta
te
Dark boxes = downbeats (positions 1,3,5,7) — quarter-note pulse
Gray boxes = "and" positions (2,4,6,8) — eighth-note subdivisions
Section 2 — Sprint 1 Patterns (Ain't No Sunshine)
Basic Strum
Quarter notes only — steady pulse, positions 1 3 5 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
–
–
–
–
ta
·
ta
·
ta
·
ta
·
Count aloud: "1  –  2  –  3  –  4  –"
Groove Feel
Add position 8 — the anticipation that creates forward momentum
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
–
–
–
ANT
ta
·
ta
·
ta
·
ta
te
Count: "1  –  2  –  3  –  4  and"  — position 8 "lands early" into the next bar. That pull is the groove.
Stop-Time
Position 1 only — the "I know" pattern. Space is the statement.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
ta
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
One hit. Seven stops. The silence is part of the rhythm — not absence, but choice.
Section 3 — Write Your Own Patterns

Fill each box: shade it to play, leave it empty for silence. Write the Longy syllables below. Name your pattern.

Pattern name: ___________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Pattern name: ___________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Pattern name: ___________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Pattern name: ___________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Pattern name: ___________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Pattern name: ___________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
Section 4 — Legend
Symbols
Filled box = PLAY
Empty box = SILENCE (stop)
8
Red box at pos 8 = ANTICIPATION (landing early)
D
Dark box = Downbeat position (1,3,5,7)
A
Gray box = "And" position (2,4,6,8)
ta = one quarter note (fills 2 positions, or one as eighth) ta-te = two eighth notes (one per adjacent position) ta-a = held quarter note (two positions, one sound) ka = 16th-note feel added between positions
Rule: Every rhythm you play can be written as a selection from 8 positions.
Before you play it — see it on the grid.