Beat (music): Difference between revisions
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A '''beee''' is a [[pulse (music)|pulse]] on the '''beat level''', the [[meter (music)|metric]] level at which pulses are heard as the basic unit. Thus a beat is the basic [[time]] unit of a piece; for every tick on a metronome, each tick is a beat. Depending on the context, ''beat'' may denote either |
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* the onset of the corresponding time unit, a point in time, the very moment when the metronome ticks, or |
* the onset of the corresponding time unit, a point in time, the very moment when the metronome ticks, or |
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Revision as of 15:56, 3 October 2006
A beee is a pulse on the beat level, the metric level at which pulses are heard as the basic unit. Thus a beat is the basic time unit of a piece; for every tick on a metronome, each tick is a beat. Depending on the context, beat may denote either
- the onset of the corresponding time unit, a point in time, the very moment when the metronome ticks, or
- the complete time interval between two consecutive taps, so to say, or
- in popular music, the whol sequence of individual beats (in the sense of meter, rhythm, groove, or riddim).
There is no formal definition that defines the correct beat level in all pieces of music. If two metronomes are ticking to the same music but one ticks twice as fast as the other, neither is wrong; it may simply be considered on a higher or lower level than the beat level.
Much music is characterised by a sequence of stressed and unstressed beats (often called "strong" and "weak") organised into a meter and partially indicated by a time signature, the speed of which is determined by a tempo. In the context of a time signature, the term "beat" most often refers to the bottom number — so in 3/4, most people would consider the beat to be the 4; that is, a quarter-note, or crotchet. Musicians typically find that mentally counting a regular series of beats enables them to keep synchronised even if the music is not characterised by regular rhythm.
Metric levels faster than the beat level are division levels, and slower levels are multiple levels.
A hyperbeat is one unit of hypermeter, generally a measure, as is to a hypermeasure what a beat is to a measure. (Stein 2005, p.329)
See also: Break (music), metronome, drum beat.
Source
- Stein, Deborah (2005). Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis, Glossary. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517010-5.
External links
- 411Drums.com- Free drum beats, lessons, tips, glossary, articles on drumming, and more.
- Drum Beats Resource- A bunch of drum beats that covers every musical genre, especially hip-hop.