now I understand what backbeat means

Subject: now I understand what backbeat means
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 May 13 - 11:08 AM

I've heard the term 'backbeat,' I've heard defitions, but I never understood what people were talking about. However, another thread on this page inspired me to look for backbeat on YouTube. Here's what I found:

see it, hear it

The teacher doesn't say so, but we should notice that the big drum, which is played with the foot, is softer than the snare drum. So when he plays

One   two   three four, he's also playing

soft LOUD soft LOUD

Convention says that music in 4/4 should go

REAL-LOUD soft Pretty-Loud soft

but playing on the backbeat changes that.

Whew! I'm glad I won't go to my grave never having understood the backbeat.

Subject: RE: now I understand what backbeat means
From: Acorn4
Date: 09 May 13 - 12:01 PM

Isn't that Reggae?

Subject: RE: now I understand what backbeat means
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 May 13 - 12:25 PM

Could be.

It's also swing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHANNkKBSNU

Subject: RE: now I understand what backbeat means
From: GUEST,crazy little woman
Date: 09 May 13 - 03:48 PM

Thanks for the info. It's confusing, because they talk about 'THE backbeat' like there's only one. In fact there are two backbeats in every 4/4 measure.

I enjoyed that swing dancing.

Subject: RE: now I understand what backbeat means
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 13 - 09:20 PM

I so wish I could still play the Hran and make an instructional vid for the particular case I spoke to earlier today on Facebook. As for the link re backbeat, yeah, okay, but it really doesn't demonstrate to a novice what it actually is because the opposite is not demonstrated for context. Perhaps I am being musically pedantic but I calls da girls I goes wit on less n dat buddy. >;-)

Subject: RE: now I understand what backbeat means
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 May 13 - 10:50 PM

those are lessons, gnu, and I'm sure the conventional beat was demonstrated in an earlier lesson.

I too hope that someday you can resume playing, gnu.