Master polyrhythms
from 3:2 to 7:4 and beyond.
DrumShed's polyrhythm drill stacks two independent rhythms and lets you hear how they interlock. Start simple, build to complex. Internalize the relationship.
Why polyrhythms are hard — and how to fix it
Polyrhythms feel impossible because you're trying to count two things at once. The solution: stop counting and start feeling. The drill trains your body to hold both pulses.
Any ratio
3:2, 4:3, 5:4, 7:4, 5:3 — configure any two rhythms. The drill plays both simultaneously with distinct sounds.
Separate volumes
Adjust the volume of each rhythm independently. Start by hearing both clearly, then reduce one to internalize it.
Start slow
Begin at a tempo where you can hear every note of both rhythms. Speed up only when the relationship is locked in.
Drop one out
Once you can feel both rhythms, mute one. Can you maintain the other? This is the real test.
Notation view
See both rhythms displayed in notation. Understand where they align and where they diverge.
Track progress
Every polyrhythm session is logged. See which ratios you've mastered and which need more work.
Four practice modes
Different modes for different stages of your polyrhythm journey.
In/Out mode
Loop a single ratio. Base pulse plays alone, then the poly layer enters. Stay here until you can feel it without thinking.
Progressive mode
Walk through ratios from simple to complex — 3:2 → 4:3 → 5:4. Build broad polyrhythmic fluency in one session.
Contrast mode
Alternate between two different ratios each cycle. Train your brain to switch polyrhythmic feels without losing tempo.
Inversion mode
Flip a single ratio every N bars — 3:2 then 2:3 then 3:2. Same notes, opposite feel. Drills the brain to hear either pulse as home.
Practice tips
Sing and play
Sing one rhythm while playing the other. Then swap. This builds the independence that makes polyrhythms feel natural.
Feet vs hands
Play the base pulse with feet and the poly with hands. Essential for real-world limb independence.
Learn in order
3:2 (Afro-Cuban), 4:3 (jazz), 5:4 (prog), 7:4 (advanced). Each builds on the last.
Slow it way down
If a ratio feels impossible, halve the tempo. The relationship becomes clearer when every note is audible.
Practice this in DrumShed
Free on iPhone and iPad
