hemiola
/ˌhɛmiˈoʊlə/
noun
- A musical rhythm where two beats are played in the time of three, or three in the time of two, creating a temporary change in the feel of the music.
- The drummer used a hemiola to make the song feel like it was speeding up for a moment.
- In the chorus, the guitar plays a hemiola that shifts the rhythm from a waltz to a march.
- Learning to play a hemiola can be tricky because your hands want to follow different beats.