dcr Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 Mind you, I'm pretty sure I know what a backbeat is (I know way too many "oldies" not to have heard one!), but it dawned on me that I've never been totally clear on what the WORD "backbeat" means. Thanks for filling in the clueless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 The backbeat is the second and fourth beats of a 4/4 measure. The beats on which the drummer hits the snare drum. The downbeat is beat one of the measure. If a bassplayer lays into the one and the drummer answers with a nice rimshot on two, all is right with the world. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japhy4529 Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 Backbeat = 2 and 4 of a 4/4 measure. Downbeat = 1st beat of measure. So what the hell is beat 3 called "beat 3"? Bee, why you sting me? - Jack Kerouac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassaddik Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 the third beat??? Praise ye the LORD. ....praise him with stringed instruments and organs... Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. excerpt from- Psalm 150 visit me at: www.adriangarcia.net for His glory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted August 7, 2003 Author Share Posted August 7, 2003 Thanks! Actually, that's exactly what I thought it was...but I wasn't sure. It will therefore be correct for me to say, "Messina, Willis, & White put down one mean backbeat!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 wait a minute, are Messina Willis and White all drummers? Bass players don't usually lay down the backbeat..in fact it's often a good idea to leave a little hole there in your bass part for the drummer. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted August 8, 2003 Author Share Posted August 8, 2003 Oh, I'm careful to leave that hole. Precious drummin' space, that is. (In fact, I've found that when you're playing without a drummer, still leaving the whole can imply the backbeat.) I was referring to Eddie Willis, Robert White, & Joe Messina: the "oreo" guitar section of the Funk Brothers. They drop in those sweet, staccato 16th chords on the 2 & 4 (e.g. "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"). When I think of backbeat, I think of those guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan South Posted August 8, 2003 Share Posted August 8, 2003 Bass sometimes emphasizes the backbeat in Reggae - especially the TWO - but the drums and rhythm guitar emphasize TWO and FOUR, too. The Black Knight always triumphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orphan wells Posted August 8, 2003 Share Posted August 8, 2003 Well that's all good in 4/4 but in 3/4/ or 6/8 it's a different story. The back beat can fall in a few different places depending on the drummer. Usually the strongest beat is the 4 in 6/8. sometimes for a less straight beat you'll hear the first snare come on the 2 1/2. There's really too many variations to talk about. Just listen to the drummer play. Sometime they actually know what their talking about if you ask them. I didn't come here to play. I came here to make babies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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