A visual reconciliation for tangueros and milongueros

Tango compás :
1 - (2) - 3 - (4) - 1 - (2) - 3 - (4)

tango y milonga compas
Tango compás
Tango  tunes have repeating four-count cycles (or "bars") typically in pairs
Tango compás is the "one" and "three" continuously throughout
The "ones" and "threes" are the most frequently stepped beats in tangos
Example: Tangueros at La Viruta in Buenos Aires stepping mainly to the tango compás

All tango dancers should be able to adopt the compás as the default for their dance steps

"Common" half-time tango rhythm :
1 - (2) - (3) - (4) - 1 - (2) - (3) - (4)

common half-time tango rhythm
"Common" half-time tango rhythm
Tango phrases "inviting" half-time steps tend to have one particularly strong beat each bar
Half-time dancing usually involves only the "one beat" being stepped on
Common feature of Pugliese and Piazzolla music
Example: First four steps at 11 secs of Fernando Gracia y Sol Cerquides dancing to "Gallo Ciego"

"Common" double-time tango rhythm :
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

common double-time tango rhythm
"Common" double-time tango rhythm
Tango phrases "inviting" double time steps tend to have similar strength on all (four) beats
Double time dancing involves the "two" or "four" beat also being stepped on
Common rhythm of Canaro, D'Arienzo, Fresedo and others
Example: Michelle Marsidi and Joachim Dietiker dancing to "Fracaso"  by Canaro

"Common" off-beat double-time tango rhythm :
(1) - 2 - (3) - 4 - (1) - 2 - (3) - 4

common off-beat double-time tango rhythm
"Common" off-beat tango rhythm
Tango phrases "inviting" off-beat steps tend to have silence on beats 1 and 3 beats and accents on beats 2 and 4
Off-beat dancing involves only the "two" or "four" beat being stepped on
Common rhythm of Biagi (particularly) as well as Pugliese and Tanturi
Example: Sigrid Van Tilbeurgh and Murat Erdemsel dancing to Didi by Biagi

"Common" quadrupal-time tango rhythm :
1& - 2& - 3& - 4& - 1& - 2& - 3& - 4&

common quadrupal-time tango rhythm
"Common" quadruple-time tango rhythm
Tango phrases can have a continuous stream of even quarter beats
These may overlay a double time or simple compas rhythm and are usually only for a bar or two
In social dancing, all eight beats per bar could be danced, or a common double time rhyhm or the compas could be danced
Common rhythm of Fresado, Canaro, D'arienzo, Biagi, Tanturi and others
Example: At 1 min 50 secs Ariadna Naveira y Fernando Sánchez dancing to "Una noche de garufa" by Tanturi

"Common" off-beat quadruple-time tango rhythm :
1& - (2)& - (3)& - (4)& - 1& - (2)& - (3)& - (4)&

common off-beat quadrupal-time tango rhythm
"Common" off-beat quadruple-time tango rhythm
Tango phrases can have a half-beat of silence (i.e. a "rest") and a half-beat note to provide syncopation
Off-beats can occur once in a bar (such as in the second beat of a normal milonga rhythm) or multiple times
In social dancing, off beats on 2& and 4& are often danced as a preparatory step for a strong step on 1 or 3
Advanced followers sometimes demonstrate their awareness of off-beats with adornments
Common rhythm of Biagi, Tanturi, Pugliese and Piazzolla
Example: Social dancers dancing to "Garufa" by Hugo Cruz and Hugo Cruz and Calle Tango

"Common" 3-3-2 (habanera) tango rhythm :
1 - (2)& - (3) - 4 - 1 - (2)& - (3) - 4

common 3-3-2 tango rhythm
"Common" 3-3-2 (habanera) tango rhythm
Milonga rhythm was derived from this African rhythm by adding a pulse to beat "three"
Each bar comprises two extended beats of one and a half counts duration, plus beat "four"
The bass line in Piazzolla's "Oblivion" and sections of Pugliese's "Mala Junta" feature the 3-3-2 rhythm.
Example: 1 min 36 secs into Juan Carlos Copes dancing "Negracha" by Pugliese (in 2008)

"Common" triplet tango rhythm :
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

common triplet tango rhythm
"Common" triplet tango rhythm
A three-pulse "vals" rhythm played evenly across two beats
Regularly played music featuring Triplets include "Buscandote" by Fresedo, and "Uno" and "Gricel" by Troilo
Example: 2 min 36 secs into Federico Naveira y Sabrina Masso dancing to "Mala Junta" by Pugliese