Subdivisions and the inner clock

Between the beats lives the world. Most music subdivides each beat into 2 (eighth notes), 3 (triplets), or 4 (sixteenth notes).

Producers and drummers think in 16th notes constantly. A typical 4/4 bar = 16 sixteenth-note slots. Every hi-hat pattern you've ever loved is built by choosing which of those 16 slots get a hit.

Swing vs straight

Straight feel: subdivisions are mathematically equal. Swing feel: the first of each pair is slightly longer. Hip-hop, jazz and amapiano all use varying amounts of swing.