Here's what you've all been waiting for: a black professional female musician's opinion on the annoyance of hearing people clap on beats 1 and 3 instead of 2 and 4. But my thoughts on the matter might actually surprise you.
First thing's first, it's fun to clown people who don't clap "right" when I'm on stage or in the audience, but I'm not intensely annoyed by it like other musicians are. I'm not here to shame you (too hard) if you like clapping on beats 1 and 3.
Clapping on 1 and 3 really isn't clapping "offbeat". Beats 1 through 4 are all good beats, so don't think you're doing anything that horrible unless you're not catching any of them.
With the exception of those that are good with syncopation and purposely missing the beat, you're really offbeat if you're catching beats like 1.5 and 3.75.
Beats 2 and 4 are often referred to as the backbeat in many forms of popular western music.
When the drummer is playing, they usually reserve beats 2 and 4 for trebly percussions like a snare or a snap, so placing your claps on these beats works very well. It just doesn't sound as great when you're clapping on 1 and 3.
Clapping on beats 2 and 4 really boils down to the music culture that you've been exposed to and the amount of rhythm you naturally have in your bones.
Black people are notoriously well-known for having the claps on lock because our beloved genres like jazz and gospel with blues roots really put a heavy focus on drum instrumentation that works well for claps placed on 2 and 4.
If you're not exposed to this type of music often enough, it won't be subconsciously engrained into the way you connect with music.
If you're not that rhythmically in tune with music at all, then you're definitely going to have a hard time catching any of the beats.
Recognizing how a steady beat from a young age will help you with this process and make it hard for you if you're just learning as an adult.
Don't even think about trying to add swaying or dance moves to the mix if you aren't that familiar with a steady beat or African American music culture. It's like watching a trainwreck in real time!
I'm usually somewhere cracking up, laughing, and feeling bad for these rhythmless souls at the same time.
Clapping on beats 2 and 4 works well for the most popular Western music genres like Rock, Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz, Dance, and Gospel music.
You'll rarely find a song where clapping on beats 2 and 4 won't work, so if you're confused, go for these beats.
If you feel like you're not confident, try to focus on the drums in the song and get a sense of where you hear the snares, the claps, or a tambourine.
Try stomping your feet on two and four in addition to clapping on 2 and 4, and you'll likely feel the naturalness of your body with the rhythmic flow of the song over time.
Related Post: How To Dance And Sing At The Same Time
Some genres of music actually work well with clapping on 1 and 3 or clapping on all four beats. If you're in an audience and the song style is something like polka or marching band music, your claps will sound pretty well placed.
You'd be surprised, but some genres with Afro-Caribbean and Latin American flavors, like soca and merengue, blend well with claps that are placed on beats 1 and 3.
You can either clap on 1 and 3, all four beats, or a syncopated beat for which you need a good rhythmic ear.
One of my favorites, pianist and crooner Harry Connick Jr., came up with a fun way to get an audience on the "right" beat if they're clapping on 1 and 3 instead of 2 and 4. He changed the rhythmic flow right around the 40-second mark in the video above.
Obviously, this won't work if you're not leading the instrumentation, but it's interesting to see how people don't realize they're doing it "wrong" and are tricked into doing it "right".
The audience didn't even notice a thing when he switched it up! What a talented performer, right?
Related Post: What Is A Steady Beat?
A metronome is a valuable tool for improving your sense of timing.
Start by clapping along with a metronome set at a comfortable tempo, and then challenge yourself by gradually increasing the speed. This will help you internalize a steady pulse and develop a consistent sense of timing.
Actively listen to different genres of music that emphasize rhythmic elements, such as jazz, funk, or Afro-Caribbean music. Pay attention to the drum patterns, syncopated rhythms, and how the instruments interact to create a rhythmic groove.
Body percussion involves using different parts of your body, such as clapping, stomping, or patting, to create rhythmic patterns.
Practicing body percussion exercises can improve your coordination and reinforce your sense of rhythm.
Counting beats and subdivisions is a helpful technique to internalize rhythm.
Practice counting aloud while clapping or tapping your foot to the beat. This will train your brain to recognize and anticipate different rhythmic patterns.
As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
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