the backbeat

Meanings

1. 1nounsingularmusic

   A strong, regular emphasis on the second and fourth beats of a bar in popular music.

   Grammar: Usually singular with 'the': the backbeat drives the song. The plural 'backbeats' is rare but possible.

   Patterns

   • on the backbeat
   • a strong backbeat

   The drummer kept a steady backbeat through the whole song.

   You can clap on the backbeat to feel the rhythm.

   Without the backbeat, the chorus sounded flat.

2. 2nounsingularmusic

   Any stressed beat that stands out against the main pulse of a piece of music.

   Grammar: Used with 'the' when pointing to one particular stressed beat.

   Patterns

   • the backbeat of a song
   • emphasize the backbeat

   The bass player locked in with the backbeat of the tune.

   She tapped the backbeat on the edge of the table.

Word forms

Common combinations

a steady backbeat

The band was built on a steady backbeat.

on the backbeat

The crowd clapped on the backbeat.

a strong backbeat

That track has a strong backbeat you can dance to.

play the backbeat

Good drummers know how to play the backbeat quietly.

Synonyms and how they differ

downbeat

The downbeat is the first, strongest beat of a bar; the backbeat falls on the weaker second and fourth beats.

offbeat

An offbeat falls between the main beats; a backbeat is still one of the main beats, just accented.

Word family

beat noun

A single unit of rhythm in music.

backbeat noun

The accented second and fourth beats in a bar.

Commonly confused: the backbeat or upbeat?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “the backbeat”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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