The images below are percussion scalograms of six different musical passages. In each case, the percussion scalogram provides an objective, visual description of the hierarchical structure of the percussive rhythms. At the top of each percussion scalogram are thin dark bars that mark off the time and duration of individual percussive strikes. These bars flow downward and join together (like streams of water forming rivulets) into groups of strikes. The rivulets for those groups then flow down to join together into even longer time-scale groupings. In each case, you can watch a video of the percussion scalogram being traced out as the music plays by clicking on one of the links below the percussion scalogram. It is probably best to watch the video several times. The first viewing to confirm that the thin dark bars at the top do actually mark off the individual percussive strikes, and subsequent viewings to confirm that groups within the percussive scalogram correspond to your aural perception of groups of percussive strikes.
Dance Around clip (rock percussion)
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Buenos Aires Intro (Latin percussion)
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Bangora Intro (Indian folk percussion)
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Unsquare Dance Intro (Jazz percussion)
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Welela Intro (African percussion)
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