Four-on-the-floor (or four-to-the-floor) is a rhythm used primarily in dance genres such as disco and electronic dance music. It is a steady, uniformly accented beat in 44 time in which the bass drum is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4).
This was popularized in the disco music of the 1970s
and the term four-on-the-floor was widely used in that era, since the beat was played with the pedal-operated, drum-kit bass drum.
Four on the floor was common in jazz drumming until bebop styles expanded rhythmic roles beyond the basics in the 1940s. Garage rock bands of the 1960s such as the Troggs and the Seeds used four-on-the-floor on some of their hits.
Many styles of electronic dance music use this beat as an important part of the rhythmic structure. Sometimes the term is used to refer to a 4/4 uniform drumming pattern for any drum.
A form of four-on-the-floor is also used in jazz drumming. Instead of hitting the bass drum in a pronounced and therefore easily audible fashion, it is usually struck very lightly (referred to as "feathering") so that the sound of the drum is felt instead of heard by the listener. Typically, this is combined with a ride cymbal and hi-hat in syncopation. When a string instrument makes the rhythm (rhythm guitar, banjo), all four beats of the measure are played by identical downstrokes.
In reggae drumming, the bass drum usually hits on the third beat but sometimes drummers play four on the floor. Sly Dunbar from Sly and Robbie was one of the reggae drummers who played mostly in this style. Also Carlton Barrett from Bob Marley and the Wailers played four on the floor on several hits by the Wailers like "Is This Love" and "Exodus". In reggae, four on the floor usually goes by the hand with a low end and powerful bassline. Four on the floor can be found in more modern reggae derivative styles such as dancehall, while it is less common to find it in roots reggae. In the roots context, it is generally referred to as a "steppers" rhythm.
Four on the Floor
Four on the Floor | Four On The Floor
Four on the Floor – Hudson Music
Stream Four To The Floor Music. music | Listen to songs, albums ...
Four on the Floor | kennethemig.com
Four On The Floor CD Version / Pre Order ships 1/15/24 — Platetectonic ...
Birmingham Music Scene: Four on the Floor
Four on the Floor – EP – Four80East
Four on the Floor (1985) | MUBI
Four on the Floor - KOOP Radio 91.7 FM
Four-on-the-Floor Rhythm Explained - 2022 - MasterClass
Four on the Floor - THE FLOORDRUM
Four-on-the-floor (or four-to-the-floor) is a rhythm used primarily in dance genres such as disco and electronic dance music. It is a steady, uniformly accented beat in 4 4 time in which the bass drum is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4). [ 1 ]
Jun 7, 2021 · The four-on-the-floor beat is a common time rhythm pattern that sounds four consecutive quarter notes within a measure of 4/4 music. Sometimes called four-to-the-floor, this beat is played on the bass drum of a drum kit, which explains the "on the floor" phrase.
Oct 28, 2021 · The "Four-on-the-Floor"-Beat is a stylistic device which has influenced many different genres of music, from Jazz over Disco to Rock and Metal. In this video, I want to explain...
Just what is it about the classic disco beat that makes you want to get up and dance? There's actually a name for it, and APO Principal Percussionist Eric Re...
Aug 22, 2023 · Four in the floor, or four to the floor, is the name given to a rhythm pattern that is primarily associated with dance music and disco music. The beat itself is characterized by a uniformly accented beat in 4/4 time, with the bass drum being hit on every beat (a simple 1, 2, 3, 4) in common time.
Four-on-the-floor is a rhythm pattern used in disco and electronic dance music. Earl Young (drummer from the Trammps) explains how the rhythm pattern has em...
Apr 12, 2023 · ‘Four on the floor’ is a common pattern that defines musical styles like disco and EDM. But you can also find it in classic rock, blues, and even mainstream pop. This article will teach you how to play four on the floor, show you some examples of songs that use it, and give you some tips for playing the most popular dance beat on earth.
May 12, 2024 · The Four-to-the-Floor beat, often abbreviated as 4/4, is a rhythmic pattern characterized by a steady kick drum hit on every quarter note within a musical measure. It forms the rhythmic backbone of many dance and electronic music tracks.
A drum pattern in which a particular drum sound (usually a bass drum, sometimes a tom or higher-pitched drum) consistently hits on the beat in 4/4 time. The steady 4/4 bit originated with 1970s disco, and carried over into prototype electronic dance …
Jun 27, 2023 · Playing the 4 On The Floor Beat involves hitting the bass drum on every quarter note while maintaining a steady rhythm with the drums. This driving and simple beat is popular in various music genres that use a 4/4 time signature and is easy for beginners to learn.
