A rhythmic unit is a durational pattern which occupies a period of time equivalent to a pulse or pulses on an underlying metric level, as opposed to a rhythmic gesture. Rhythmic units may be classified as:

1. Metric: even-note patterns, such as steady eighth notes or pulses.
2. Intrametric: confirming patterns, such as dotted eighth -sixteenth note and swing patterns.
3. Contrametric: non-confirming, or syncopated patterns.
4. Extrametric: irregular patterns, such as tuplets.

(DeLone et. al. (Eds.), 1975, chap. 3)

References

• DeLone et. al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0130493465.