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measure the grouping of beats into larger, clearly perceptible units of time. since measures
group beats, the measure is slower than the beat.
downbeat the pulse that marks first beat of each measure. the downbeat is commonly the
strongest beat of each measure.
upbeat any beat of the measure that is not a downbeat. (more on this presently.)
oral tradition principally learned and transmitted by ear,
written tradition written notation, sheet music, and the classical
four beat feel four-beat time, 4/4 time, 4/4, or simply four
two beat feel two-beat time, 2/4 time (or 2/2), 2/4, or simply two
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swing beat swing rhythm (or feel, or beat; also sometimes referred to as shuffle rhythm),
because it gives a lilting or 'swinging' feel to the beat; and it is, as you might expect, essential to
the jazz style called 'swing.'
straight beat offbeats are equal, dividing the beat into two even halves
backbeat this middle beat is usually called a backbeat, rather than an upbeat. it provides a
wonderful, vital opposition to the downbeat.
boogie or boogie woogie (rhythm style) boogie woogie conveys a feeling of rhythmic
power by pounding or leaning insistently on every beat of the measure, making the music
incredibly intense and exciting. boogie rhythm is intimately connected to blues form and
expression, and to dance music.
syncopation meaning a musical attack that occurs on a relatively weak beat (or offbeat) at
the expense of a neighboring strong beat which receives either no attack or else a much weaker
attack that produces the same effect as no attack.
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walking rhythm or bass plays a note evenly on every beat of a four-beat measure: 1-2-3-4
1-2-3-4 etc
timbre the specific, unique quality of sound made by any voice, instrument, or
combination of the two.
pitch (fixed and variable) the higher or lower placement of a note along the melodic
spectrum. pianos are made in such a way that each piano key can only strike one unvarying or
fixed pitch, while the human voice can create all kinds of variable pitch through bending and
sliding, all the way up and down its range
scale a generalized, implicit background framework of notes, on which actual melodies
are built
octave double, or halve, its rate of vibration
diatonic (major, minor, modal) denote the traditional scales found in Western classical
music and the traditional mainstream popular music that emerged in relation to it. major: this
diatonic scale is often said to express strength or happiness, and is found in a great deal of music