Swing (jazz performance style)

"Straight" versus swung^[a]

Straight: first note length⁄second note length=1⁄1

Soft swing: >1⁄1 to <2⁄1

Triplet swing: 2⁄1

Hard swing: >2⁄1 to <3⁄1

Dotted hard swing: 3⁄1

In music, the term swing has two main uses. Colloquially, it is used to describe the propulsive quality or "feel" of a rhythm, especially when the music prompts a visceral response such as foot-tapping or head-nodding (see pulse). This sense can also be called "groove".

The term swing feel, as well as swung note(s) and swung rhythm,^[b] is also used more specifically to refer to a technique (most commonly associated with jazz^{[citation needed]} but also used in other genres) that involves alternately lengthening and shortening the first and second consecutive notes in the two part pulse-divisions in a beat.
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