downbeat
Negatively toned or dispirited
Downbeat has two distinct meanings.
In music, the downbeat is the first beat of a measure—the strong beat where a conductor's hand moves downward.
More commonly, downbeat describes a gloomy or pessimistic mood or tone: The report struck a downbeat note about the economy.
The musical and emotional senses share a quality of heaviness or descent.
Regional speech pattern
- measureUnit of quantity
- barDrinking establishment
- meterDevice that measures usage
- pulseArterial blood throb
rhythm · emphasis · stress · time signature · pickup · syncopation · groove · tempo
Slender rod for leading
- tempoRate of musical performance
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- cueTrigger for action
- attackAggressive act against another
entrance · maestro · podium · gesture · indication · preparatory · cutoff · fermata
Dark and dispiriting
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- discouragedHaving lost confidence or enthusiasm
- dejectedLow in spirits
- dispiritedHaving lost heart
disheartened · cynical · bleak · hopeless · defeatist · despondent · melancholy · somber
Suspended recreational seat
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
rhythm section · combo · ensemble · solo · jam session · riff · blues · cool jazz
accent
Regional speech pattern
pulse · rhythm · emphasis · stress · time signature · pickup · syncopation · groove · tempo · cadence
baton
Slender rod for leading
attack · entrance · maestro · podium · gesture · indication · preparatory · cutoff · fermata
gloomy
Dark and dispiriting
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- discouragedHaving lost confidence or enthusiasm
- dejectedLow in spirits
dispirited · disheartened · cynical · bleak · hopeless · defeatist · despondent · melancholy · somber · morose
swing
Suspended recreational seat
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
groove · rhythm section · combo · ensemble · solo · jam session · riff · blues · cool jazz · fusion
muted
Made quieter or softer
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- low-keyRestrained and understated
- quietLacking in sound
restrained · subtle · mellow · soft · gentle · hushed · soothing · calm · relaxed · laid-back
- music cognitionpitch recognition, consonance, dissonance, absolute pitch, perfect pitch
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- rhythmpulse, tempo, syncopation, timing, meter
- choiralto, soprano, tenor, bass section, baritone
- drum soundsboom, drumroll, hit, kick, roll
- music elementsmelody, harmony vocals, rhythm, chord, lyrics