Slagritme

Slagritme is a Dutch term that designates the rhythm of beats or the pattern of percussion strokes within a musical measure. In everyday usage it refers to the organizing principle behind when hits occur and where accents fall, shaping the groove of a performance. The word combines slag (hit, stroke) with ritme (rhythm). In music theory slagritme is closely related to meter and subdivisions but emphasizes the surface pattern of notes produced by percussive strikes or attacks on any instrument.

In practical terms slagritme is what a drummer, percussionist or guitarist learning rhythm focuses on: which counts receive the main accents, how long notes last, and how to align strokes with the tempo. Common slagritmes include a steady four-on-the-floor kick and snare pattern, backbeats on the 2 and 4 in 4/4 time, or more complex patterns with syncopation. Different genres encode distinct slagritmes, such as straight rock, funk accents, swing feel, or Latin clave-derived patterns.

Notation: slagritme is communicated through standard rhythmic notation in scores, or taught aurally and via counting. Practitioners often clap or tap a four-beat cycle, count subdivisions (1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a) and then translate that to physical strokes.

See also: rhythm, meter, groove, percussion, drum set, syncopation.