Hemiola
A rhythmic device in which two bars of triple time are made to sound like three bars of duple time, or vice versa.
Category
rhythm
Pronunciation
/ˌhɛmiˈəʊlə/
Origin
Greek (hemiolios, one and a half)
Length
191 words · 1 min read
About Hemiola
Hemiola creates a momentary shift in the perceived metre without changing the time signature. In its most common form, within 3/4 time, the natural pattern of three groups of two quavers is replaced by two groups of three quavers across two bars, making three beats feel like two broader beats.
More rhythm terms
Bar
View all rhythmterms →A segment of music bounded by bar lines, containing a fixed number of beats
AnacrusisOne or more notes that precede the first full bar of a piece, functioning as an upbeat or pickup.
TripletA group of three notes played in the time normally occupied by two notes of the same value.
DownbeatThe first and strongest beat of a bar, typically where the conductor's baton reaches its lowest point.
Compound timeTime signatures in which each beat subdivides naturally into three equal parts.
Synonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →