Review: ‘The Law of Rhythm’ by Mickey Earnshaw

(Original posted on April 10, 2002)

When you think of rhythm as a “succession of pulses” that divides time, you begin to see its connection to the world of “numbers.” This book introduces the concept of binary numbers to rhythm, explaining the hidden potential in simple rhythms and its application to polyrhythms.

The author does not treat rhythm as a mere string of notes but deconstructs it into its smallest units, explaining in detail how they combine to form complex rhythms. This can be described as an approach to understanding rhythm structurally, much like assembling a computer program. In a sense, it’s the “deconstruction and reconstruction of rhythm.”

For example, if we represent a measure of 4/4 time with four quarter notes using a 16th-note as the base pulse, it would be written in binary as follows: “1000 1000 1000 1000”. Similarly, a measure with four off-beat eighth notes would be “0010 0010 0010 0010”. The “1” signifies when a sound is played.

Utilizing this, one can rationally explain concepts like triplets. Even a “quarter-note triplet,” which divides a measure into three equal parts, can be simply structured by representing it in binary, like “100 010 001 000”.

The author refers to these binary groupings like “1000” or “010” as “modules” in his explanation. These modules can be conceived flexibly, with 5 or 9 digits, for example. It also becomes possible to deconstruct rhythms found in existing music into modules and then attempt to reconstruct them further.

Through this binary approach, the author demystifies the structure of polyrhythms, where multiple different rhythms progress simultaneously, allowing the reader to deeply understand how complex rhythmic interplay is established and what kind of effects it produces.

A noteworthy feature of this book is its focus on the fundamental elements of rhythm, “pulse” and “division,” demonstrating abstractly yet logically how they give rise to diverse rhythmic patterns. This is profoundly significant for understanding music at a deeper level and for stimulating the creativity of composers and performers.

By presenting and discussing rhythm in this abstracted form, the content offers insights to all musicians. Understanding rhythm as a “system and structure” will dramatically increase one’s ability to apply it in performance and creation.

In summary, this book is not merely a guide to the rhythmic aspects of performance technique but a logical pursuit of the “law” of rhythm, serving as an intriguing guide for expanding one’s ideas about rhythm.

Table of Contents for ‘The Law of Rhythm’

About the Author

Mickey Earnshaw

An American musician born in 1939, he was active as a drummer and music educator from the 1960s to the 1980s. He has a diverse career, including collaborations with Ian Underwood, lecturing in mathematics at the University of Vermont, and teaching drum set in British Columbia, Canada.