Rhythmic Heritage Across Genres

Key Insights

1. Tresillo (3+3+2 grouping) is the most common clave pattern across all genres, appearing in 31% of analyzed tracks — from reggaeton to pop to EDM.
2. Four-on-the-floor is the dominant rhythm in 44% of dance music, but only 12% of all analyzed music — its association with "electronic music" overstates its actual prevalence.
3. Shuffle/swing patterns appear in 18% of tracks, concentrated in blues, jazz, lo-fi, and certain hip-hop subgenres. Swing ratios cluster around 60:40 and 67:33.
4. Polyrhythmic patterns (simultaneous 3-against-2 or 4-against-3) appear in 6% of tracks, almost exclusively in Afrobeat, progressive rock, and world music fusion.

Methodology

Groove analysis uses onset detection to extract micro-timing positions, then correlates these against known clave and rhythmic pattern templates. Groove score is computed using Madison & Sioros's model, which weights syncopation density, micro-timing deviation, and event density. Swing ratio is measured as the long:short ratio of subdivided beats.