Rhythms

The Music I Love

Greek, Macedonian & Balkan Rhythms

Even rhythms are easy (just a joke:-).

It's the uneven rhythms that have a special thrill to every musician, and hopefully to many listeners.

Uneven or compound rhythms are found in many music cultures, but here I will focus on their use in the Balkan music and especially on the music of this site.

hasapiko (2/4) | hasaposerviko (2/4) | sousta (2/4) | syrtos (8/8)

tsifteteli (4/4) | tsamiko (3/2) | tik (5/8) | pajdushka (5/8)

kalamatiano (7/8) | rechenica (7/8) | karsilamas (9/8) | zeimbekiko (9/8) |

9/8 (2+3+2+2) | 11/8 | 17/8

Hasapiko (Chasapiko, Sirtaki, Syrtaki) - 2/4 (written as 4/4 usually, slow)
(χασάπικο, συρτάκι) Example: Melancholia (listen)
1	2	3	4
Bass	Chord	Bass	Chord

Hasaposerviko (Chasaposerviko) - 2/4 (written as 4/4 usually, fast version of Hasapiko)
(χασαποσέρβικο) Example: Zorba's Trance (listen)
1	2	3	4
Bass	Chord	Bass	Chord

Sousta (Susta, σούστα) - 2/4 (is a variation of speedy Hasaposerviko)
1	-	2	-	3	-	4	-
Bass		Chord	Chord	Bass		Chord

Syrto (Sirtos, Sirto, Syrtos, Cocek) - 8/8 (medium to fast speed, for dancing)
(συρτό, συρτός) Example: Nisiotiko (listen)
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Bass			Chord		(Chord)	Chord

Tsifteteli (Chochek) - 8/8 (medium to fast speed, for dancing)
(τσιφτετέλι, чочек) Example: Cool Belly Dance (listen)
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Bass	Chord		Chord	Bass		Chord

Tsamiko (τσάμικο) - 3/2 or 6/8 (usually slow)
Example: Proti Dama (listen)
1	2	3	4	5	6
Bass	(chord)	Chord	Chord	Bass	Chord

Tik (τικ) - 5/8 (3+2)
Example: Green Landscape (listen)
1	2	3	4	5
bass	chord	chord	bass	chord

Pajdushka (пајдушка) - 5/8 (2+3)
Example: I'm Waiting (listen)
1	2	3	4	5
bass	chord	bass	chord	chord

Kalamatiano, Pravoto - 7/8 (3+2+2, medium to fast speed)
(καλαματιανό, καλαματιανός, правото) Example: Muzika Na Blagosta (listen)
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Bass	Chord	Chord	Bass	Chord	Bass	Chord
guitar or keyboard usually play long and short chords
Long		Short	Long		Short

Rechenica (Rachenica) - 7/8 (2+2+3, medium to fast speed)
(реченица) Example: I Was Made For Love (listen)
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Bass	Chord	Chord	Bass	Chord	Bass	Chord
guitar or keyboard usually play long and short chords
Long		Short	Long		Short

Karsilamas - 9/8 (3+2+2+2, slow, medium to fast speed)
(καρσιλαμά, καρσιλαμάς)
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
bass	chord	chord	bass	chord	bass	chord	bass	chord
guitar or keyboard chords
Long			Short		Short		Short

Zeimbekiko (Zempekiko, Zebekikos, Zeybek) - 9/8 (2+2+2+3, slow to medium fast)
(ζειμπέκικο, ζειμπέκικος χορός)
1	-	2	-	3	-	4	-	5	-	6	-	7	-	8	-	9	-
bass	chord		chord	bass		chord		bass	chord		chord	bass		chord		chord
guitar or keyboards chords
Short	Long		Short	Long		Long		Short	Long		Short	Long		Long		Long

Zeibekiko (ζεμπέκικο variation)
1	-	2	-	3	-	4	-	5	-	6	-	7	-	8	-	9	-
bass		chord	chord	bass		chord		bass		chord	chord	bass		chord		chord
guitar or keyboards chords
long		short	short	long		short		long		short	short	long		long		long

Fast Zeimbekiko 9/8 (2+2+2+3, slow to medium fast)
Examples: The Rush (listen, classical), Rush Hour (listen, modern version)
1	-	2	-	3	-	4	-	5	-	6	-	7	-	8	-	9	-
bass		chord	(chord)	bass		chord		bass		chord	(chord)	bass		chord		chord

9/8 (2+3+2+2, this combination is found in Balkan music)
Example: The Pipes (listen)
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
bass	chord	bass	chord	chord	bass	chord	bass	chord

11/8 (2+2+3+2+2, beautiful Balkan rhythm)
Examples: All The Time (listen) & Why (listen)
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
bass	chord	bass	chord	bass	chord	chord	bass	chord	bass	chord
guitar or keyboards chords
short		short		long			short		short

17/8 is a sort of Zeimbekiko where the 9-th bar is omitted the first time (8/8 + 9/8)

Example: Vari Rempetiko (βαρύ ρεμπέτικο) (listen)