trying to explain "upbeats" to my girlfriend..

[Bus_Mute]

My girlfriend is in an introductory level Understanding Music class.
She has had no musical training whatsoever.

They're learning about the beats of a measure,
and she's having a really hard time understanding upbeats/downbeats/backbeats, etc.

can anyone dumb it down enough that I could explain it to her?

I've never tried teaching; I don't claim to know a lot of theory, I'd just like to be able to make this concept a bit easier for her to comprehend.

do any of you know some videos on youtube or wherever that show the distinction between how beats in a measure are divided and accented?

thanks,

[nortonrider]

Originally Posted by Bus_Mute

can anyone dumb it down enough that I could explain it to her?

HA,HA,HA!
Man, don't let her read this thread.

[Bus_Mute]

she's a nursing major. cute kid.
being left-brained, she tries to rationalize everything and runs into problems when there are multiple ways to accomplish things or no "correct" answer.

[Mark Wilson]

To count beats it's 1 2 3 4

In between every note we say "and"

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

The "and" is the upbeat.

[Zombbg4]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

To count beats it's 1 2 3 4

In between every note we say "and"

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

The "and" is the upbeat.

yep. You could also have her clap the beats and then you start clapping the up beats.

OR, what i do to figure it out some times is put your left hand about a foot above a table or your leg, then hit the table/leg on the beat, then hit your other hand the the up beat. You can actually visualize it as an up beat this way.

[Bus_Mute]

Thanks, Mark.

although, I tried that - and for whatever reason she had a really hard time designating the space between beats as the upbeat.


I'm sure it was in the way I tried to vocalize it, though.
She seems to think the 1&3 are the upbeat, and that only the backbeat is a downbeat.

thanks, though.
I'll try again when I talk to her this evening.

[Bus_Mute]

thanks Zombbg4.

I'm sure the issue is in my wording.
She isn't stupid.

I was trying to explain this over the phone; although clapping would make it a lot easier. That's how I learned.

I decided to post here in case someone could direct me toward some cheesy video of someone clapping on upbeats or something.

I won't see her tonight, so an email with video links would be beneficial.

or I can try to explain it over the phone again without confusing her.

[Blake Bass]

Tap your foot . When your foot hits the floor that's a down beat when your foot comes up that's an up beat. Say 1 on the down beat, and "and" on the up beats.

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. All of the ands are up beats. I don't know of any easier way to explain it.

[Mingo Sanders]

Originally Posted by Bus_Mute

Thanks, Mark.

although, I tried that - and for whatever reason she had a really hard time designating the space between beats as the upbeat.

Without any actual music playing, get her to count to eight slowly and repetitively. Every eight count is one measure (of eighth notes).

Have her speed up and then slow down, all while counting to eight. Once she can do it, giving no accent to any of the eight "beats," then you start clapping on 1, 3, 5, and 7. Then trade parts: you count to eight, and she claps the 1-3-5-7. Once that's solid, move to explaining how 2-4-6-8 are the upbeats.

Whatever you do, go slow.

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by Bus_Mute

Thanks, Mark.

although, I tried that - and for whatever reason she had a really hard time designating the space between beats as the upbeat.


I'm sure it was in the way I tried to vocalize it, though.
She seems to think the 1&3 are the upbeat, and that only the backbeat is a downbeat.

thanks, though.
I'll try again when I talk to her this evening.

Well, looks like she's a drummer!!

[fearceol]

This might be of some help.

http://www.studybass.com/lessons/rhy...ion/exercises/

[DocBop]

Put on a record she likes some simple pop and have her count the beats and tap her foot on the beat. 1, 2, 3, 4. Once she gets where the Down Beats are and tap her foot on the down beats. Now tell her to tap her foot like she was for downbeats and you sing up and down beats to her 1 & 2 & 3 & 4. Then tell her to look at her foot how the downbeats are when her foot goes down and upbeats when her foot goes up. Now here here to sing the up and down beats 1 & 2 & 3 & 4....

For back beats play the same song get her tapping her foot on downbeats. Now you count the down beats and clap your hands on 2 and 4. Tell her to listen to the snare drum. Tell her the the main pulse of Rock and Pop is the back beat 2 and 4.

Remind her this is stuff to feel more than count.

[Bus_Mute]

thanks guys, she got it!

[JimK]

Well...I was gonna suggest the bass on the verses to "Roxanne".