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
Compound time
View all rhythmterms →Time signatures in which each beat subdivides naturally into three equal parts.
QuaverA note lasting half a beat in common time, equivalent to an eighth note in American terminology.
Dotted NoteA note followed by a dot, which increases its duration by half its original value.
TripletA group of three notes played in the time normally occupied by two notes of the same value.
AnacrusisOne or more notes that precede the first full bar of a piece, functioning as an upbeat or pickup.
Synonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →