What is rhythm, and why do we love a beat?

Beats, or musical rhythm, can transform how we experience all forms of media, from TV and cinema to advertising content.

For example, the relentless war drums in Mad Max: Fury Road significantly add to the film's threat and energy, particularly in the chase sequences. The two-note rhythmic pattern in the Jaws movie creates a sense of impending doom and tangible danger in the audience.

Rhythm is innate to humans and is a shared constant among all cultures.

But where does it come from, and why does it make such a difference in entertainment and advertising?

 

What is rhythm in music? 

Rhythm is an underlying cycle or pattern of beats, sounds and silence.

But our capacity for rhythm detection is far more than our ability to tap along in time to a beat or underlying rhythmic structure. It's a fundamental aspect of human biology and expression.

In prehistoric times, ritual drumming bonded tribes together in ceremonial gatherings. This helped them develop a sense of rhythm they shared, making them better at coordinating their activities. It's like military marching today, which helps forge unity and instils discipline and collective identity.

Babies understand rhythm in music. We see that when babies move in time to songs they hear on their favourite shows. They get this long before they can walk and talk.

As we get older, we learn that the rhythm of our speech, like when we tell stories, can make our communication more effective.

That’s a lesson not lost on politicians, for example. They slow the pace of their delivery when they want us to remember something. The most influential politicians use pauses and stress to add rhythm to their speeches to engage the audience better. They also move their hands and introduce each new point they want to make to a defined beat.

 

Catching beats - how we understand rhythm

Have you ever wondered why you can't help but tap your foot to a catchy tune? The answer lies in a special part of our brain called the basal ganglia. Think of the basal ganglia as the leader of our brain's dance team. It's like an internal drummer that picks up on the music rhythm or the pulse of a movie soundtrack, helping us feel the beat.

But our brain's dance doesn't end there. Another area, the premotor cortex, acts like a dance coach, preparing us for our next move. Whether we're planning to tap our foot or sway to the music, this part of the brain gets us ready. And there's more: the cerebellum, akin to a graceful dancer, ensures our movements are smooth and precise.

These parts of our brain work together like a well-coordinated dance troupe, making us move and feel in sync with the music. This intricate dance inside our head is why rhythms and beats can have such a powerful effect on us, influencing everything from our emotions to how we enjoy movies and music.

 

How rhythm and music enhance viewer engagement

Rhythm and music also directly affect our moods and how we respond to TV, movies, and advertising.

Directors use this knowledge to make their productions more immersive. Clever music and rhythm choices sync us with the story's pace, making us feel more involved and engaged.

Take the movie Psycho as an example. The rapid, shrieking strings used in the film heighten the drama of the horror the film captures, creating scenes we remember to this day. The music also triggers a flight or fight response in the audience, who want the character to escape her seemingly inevitable fate.

Another example is the drama and tension in The Matrix: Reloaded's 10-minute motorway chase scene. The score's tempo ramps as the Agents gain on Trinity, Morpheus, and the Keymaker, driving our adrenaline levels higher. It makes us feel right there with them.

A great soundtrack with a compelling beat used at the right time in a TV show or movie creates unforgettable viewing experiences.

In advertising, music in brand association stretches back to the dawn of cinema as a medium. A rhythmic jingle or frequently played music can become synonymous with a company or a product. Music can help shape a brand’s identity and add to its emotional appeal.

An example of a campaign where the choice of music and repetitive rhythm was very effective is WeBuyAnyCar.com. Nearly two decades after the company launched, we all know the firm’s catchy theme tune with its powerful dance rhythm and singalong lyrics.

 

Music, beats and your production

Getting the right music for a production involves making tough creative choices.

Depending on the narrative and tone of the scene, the tempo of the music selection has to match a potential range of emotions or action.

A slow-tempo track with under 70 beats per minute (BPM), for example, would fit romantic or solemn scenes well.

A mid-tempo track might work well for a narrative section of TV or film, which then ramps up to fast-tempo 110+bpm music for added drama in a high-energy scene.

The music choice of each scene requires consideration of the action, what would resonate emotionally with the audience, and how effectively it can be used to transition between scenes requiring musical phrases of different tempos and melodic content.

 

Using a music library to choose the right music

Finding the perfect soundtrack for your project might seem daunting, given the vast array of choices and music's critical role in storytelling but we've created a solution that simplifies the selection process.

Our catalogue has over 650,000 music tracks that help you get the message across if you need to find music for your movie, show, or commercial.

Search for the right sounds by collection, playlist, mood, and genre. If you want even more control, download the stems from our music to create your unique compositions. Click to register with Universal Production Music.