Topmusicanswers
Several places I've seen suggest that the "backbeat (accenting beats 2 and 4) originated in the strumming patterns in early country music (then called "hillbilly" to market to "Whites" as opposed to "race" which was marketed to "Blacks" in the 1920s.)
- Why is it called backbeat?
- Where did the backbeat come from?
- Who created the backbeat?
- What is a drum back beat?
Why is it called backbeat?
A heavy rhythmic emphasis on beats 2 and 4 within a 4-beat bar. Some music historians contend that the heavy 2-and-4 backbeat was originally a parody of military music, devised by African-American musicians who heard both Union and Confederate bands play marching music during the Civil War. ...
Where did the backbeat come from?
Originating in Dixieland jazz, country and gospel, the backbeat is now ubiquitous throughout American and global popular music.
Who created the backbeat?
A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (and New Orleans' own), the late drummer Earl Palmer claimed that the first record with a backbeat “all the way through” was Fats Domino's “The Fat Man” in 1949, on which Earl played.
What is a drum back beat?
The Backbeat. The term Backbeat refers to the accented notes that are typically on the 2nd and 4th beat in a bar. ... These accents are typically on the snare, but can be on any part of the kit. The Backbeat and the drum kit go hand in hand, as they both came into fruition around the same time.
