Beat (music)#On-beat and off-beat

As offbeat (even off-beat, Eng. Away from the shock) positions between beats of a metrical and especially the emphasis on these positions are referred to in the music.

The continuous beat is melodic accents on the off-beats (ie "before" and "behind" the beat) superimposed. The resulting partitions generated by the offbeat of the basic rhythmic grid superimposed polyrhythmic phrases. In a 4/4-time the Offbeat is displayed with eighth notes (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and ). In general, the term " Offbeat " However, not only the time between two beats are, but a stressed tone on such a time between two beats. Such accents between the Beats often appear as early tones, so as anticipations of later expected ( on a strong beat ) accents.

After Joachim -Ernst Berendt wake offbeat accents in the listener 's need for rhythmic movement, because the subconscious by a movement from the early accent towards the unaccented beat wants to combine both of them together, so as to "cure" the falling apart of beat and accent. What is meant is probably that the offbeat - the clocking scheme " contradictory " - in tension with which the clocking scheme confirmatory Beat stands. This tension arises from or corresponds to a perceived musical tension in the listener, on which it exerts a psychologically stimulating effect. Beyond dispute might in any case be that offbeat invigorating effect.

The offbeat, coming from black African music tradition, was originally observed in the African-American musical heritage of North America, so in jazz and its precursors. Here he is yet ascended to the ubiquitous stylistic rhythmic peculiarity today.

In ethnological musicological conceptualization of Offbeat means any blows to the pulse that does not come on the main accent. Comes in one piece with four pulse of the main accent all four beats, the other three pulsations Offbeats. In the course of the term is further extended and applied to points in time that no longer lie on the pulses but in between.

From the jazz of the offbeat has been adopted in other popular music styles. Typical are offbeat ska and reggae as well as for primitive punk, but now come in any kind of popular music before. In contrast, the offbeat in European art music is virtually unknown. Here, a similar phenomenon is referred to rather than syncope or synkopierender rhythm. Syncope may be confused with the offbeat under any circumstances. During the beat Offbeat certain extent loosens up and the meter can be untouched, is the syncope tends to conceal up to the temporary lifting of the metric or the clocking scheme before.

Nevertheless, the distinction is sometimes difficult. Whether one is dealing with an offbeat or syncope can be stated as follows: In contrast to the offbeat syncopation does not change its effect, if one turns to the rhythm of "even" eighth notes in a shuffle (or vice versa).