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5. Downbeats and Upbeats
Furthermore, when a single beat is divided into two, the front part is called a Downbeat, and the back part is called an Upbeat. These are very important terms as well.
And derived from this, when you say “Play the downbeat,” it generally means “Play with an accent on the downbeats.”1
Whether you play the downbeat or the upbeat has a significant impact on the feel of the music. The basic strategy for the down/up is usually set by the hihat, which provides the most detailed rhythmic structure. While other instruments also affect the emphasis of the beat, setting the initial direction with the hihat is the fundamental approach. Let’s listen to some examples now!
Downbeat Hihats
This is a pattern with accents on downbeats, using open hihat. Playing on the downbeat has a distinctive weightiness.
Upbeat Hihats
This, on the other hand, is the upbeat rhythm. The upbeat, in contrast, has a certain bounce and lightness.
Comparison with Closed Hihats
Even without opening hihats, you can express accents simply by adjusting the volume, and it significantly changes the feel.
The first is the downbeat, and the latter is the upbeat. The downbeat definitely carries a sense of “weight,” while the upbeat exudes “liveliness”.
Assuming we get into the rhythms by shaking down any part of the body, whether it’s the head, hands or feet, the upbeat emphasizes the moment when what has been swung down is lifted again. This may be why the upbeat seems to enhance the lightness and exhilaration that music can convey.
Which one is preferred depends on the genre and the mood of the song. It’s a subtle difference, but being able to distinguish these nuances in your music is a crucial skill.
Now, let’s listen to actual professional works, paying attention to the hi-hat accents.
“Weightness” of the Downbeat
Here are examples of downbeat performances. Common types include performers in harder rock genres like AC/DC, or in the disco lineage with songs like “Beat It” or “Another One Bites The Dust.” In these kinds of tracks, the downbeats emphasized by the hi-hat seem to strengthen a primal groove that makes you want to instinctively nod your head in time with the beat.
“Lightness” of the Upbeat
Here are examples of upbeat performances. In many cases, the kick or snare hits on the 1st and 3rd beats, while the hi-hat, which emphasizes the upbeats, hits at different points. Inevitably, the upbeat adds more rhythmic complexity compared to the downbeat.
A classic example of an upbeat rhythm pattern is the style where the kick follows a four-on-the-floor beat while the open hi-hat emphasizes the upbeats.
Starting from the disco style live drums, this rhythm pattern is extensively used in electronic dance music such as techno and trance.
While the kick and snare are prominent sounds that naturally draw attention, it’s important to recognize the significant contribution of finer instruments like the hi-hat to the groove of the rhythm.
Beats Without Distinct Weight
Naturally, if the hihat is not playing at all, or it’s pushed randomly, or in fixed volume, there may not be a clear accent either on the downbeat or upbeat. This can especially happen with electronic drums where fixed velocity drumming is easily possible. In such cases, other instruments besides the hihats determine the accentuation.
Just as there is the term “rhythm ensemble”, all the phrases of all the instruments come together to form the final rhythmic structure of the song. In that sense, building a rhythm ensemble is a very deep process involving many intertwined elements. It’s a good idea to start by paying attention to where each instrument hits, whether upbeats or downbeats, and noticing overlaps and displacements of rhythmic hits.
So, with a grasp of the concepts of beat, bar, and time, you’ve got the basics of rhythm theory down!
Summary
- “Beat” is the fundamental unit of rhythm, indicating each pulse, each count of rhythm.
- “Bar” is a unit containing beats, defining the sense of loop, the sense of a “segment” of rhythmic pattern.
- “Time” reffers to the type of rhythmic structure, especially regarding how many beats a bar holds.
- When one beat is divided into two, the first part is referred to as the “downbeat,” and the latter part as the “upbeat.”
- It matters a lot to rhythmic groove whether you emphasize the downbeat or the upbeat.
