Down beat longer up beat shorter?
Wed, 05/06/2015 - 20:10
Hi David
In Eighth Notes: Straight, Swing and Triplet in L.O.A 1 Solo 1 working with a metronome at 5:15 you say that the Down beat is longer and the up beat is shorter. Now is the down beat a blow or draw and the up beat Blow or draw. Having trouble . I using a metronome Not sure what is the Down beat and up beat
Thank you
Hello Harplayer. The downbeat is when your foot is on the floor... it's timed with the click and flash of your metronome. The note that's played on the downbeat is longer in a swing rhythm (2/3 of the beat) and the upbeat is thus later in time and 1/3 total of the beat in length.
If you're playing Ex. 1.2, then the first draw is a downbeat and the next draw is the upbeat. The next beat is a blow, which is a downbeat, and the next blow is an upbeat. Rinse and repeat.