backbeat
Accented weak beats
A backbeat is the emphasis on beats two and four in a four-beat measure, characteristic of rock, R&B, and most popular music.
The snare drum typically provides it: The drummer laid down a heavy backbeat.
Music without a backbeat—emphasizing beats one and three—sounds square or old-fashioned to modern ears.
Narrow cut or routine
- pulseArterial blood throb
- tempoRate of musical performance
- meterDevice that measures usage
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
swing · time · measure · accent · pattern · flow · pace · timing
Pleasantly strange or unusual
- accentRegional speech pattern
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
- cross-rhythmSimultaneous contrasting beat patterns
anticipation · shuffle · swing · triplet · breakbeat · displacement · interlocking · lilt
Narrow cut or routine
Device for catching prey
- hi-hatPedal-controlled cymbal pair
- kickFoot-delivered strike
- tom-tomSmall cylindrical drum
- percussionSound through impact
sticks · kit · cymbals · rimshot · drumhead · brushes · throne · hardware
groove
Narrow cut or routine
cadence · swing · time · measure · accent · pattern · flow · pace · timing · bassline
offbeat
Pleasantly strange or unusual
- accentRegional speech pattern
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
cross-rhythm · anticipation · shuffle · swing · triplet · breakbeat · displacement · interlocking · lilt · push
groove
Narrow cut or routine
hip-hop · club · bounce · sway · move · step · floor · party · DJ · breakdance
snare
Device for catching prey
percussion · sticks · kit · cymbals · rimshot · drumhead · brushes · throne · hardware · shell
guitar
Fretted stringed instrument
distortion · vocals · concert · grunge · punk · indie · Motown · Beatles · Stones · Chuck Berry
swing
Suspended recreational seat
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- blue noteFlatted pitch in jazz
saxophone · trumpet · double bass · piano · harmony · solo · standard · fusion · cool jazz · big band
- rhythmpulse, tempo, syncopation, timing, meter
- drum soundsboom, drumroll, hit, kick, roll
- music elementsmelody, harmony vocals, rhythm, chord, lyrics
- rhythmic soundsdrumbeat, ticking, clapping, tapping, pulse
- rhythmsrhythm, syncopation, offbeat, cadence, pulse
- drummingsnare drum, drum roll, drumroll, drumsticks, flam
backbeatdownbeat
Negatively toned or dispirited
one · strong beat · thesis · oom-pah · four-on-the-floor