Lesson 2: Back Beat
Fundamentals
Back Beat is a terms used to describe a heavy accent on 2 and 4 in 4/4 common time. In European music tradition it is common to stress the strong beat which is 1 and 3. Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. One of the characteristics of jazz music is the accentuation on the so called "weak" or "backbeat", the 2 and 4. "We don't snap our fingers on the beat. It is considered to be aggressive. In jazz we don't push it, we let it fall" as says genius American composer Duke Ellington (video)
Back Beat is a terms used to describe a heavy accent on 2 and 4 in 4/4 common time. In European music tradition it is common to stress the strong beat which is 1 and 3. Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. One of the characteristics of jazz music is the accentuation on the so called "weak" or "backbeat", the 2 and 4. "We don't snap our fingers on the beat. It is considered to be aggressive. In jazz we don't push it, we let it fall" as says genius American composer Duke Ellington (video)