4/4 Beat

[discopsycho]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about the beat that makes disco disco. The 4/4 beat is associated with disco and dance music, but was that always the case, and are there notable exceptions of songs that did not follow this pattern?

Thanks in advance

[Disco Funk]

Some disco songs are shuffles, like Knock on Wood by Amii Stewart and Lovin Livin Givin by Diana Ross. Many Van McCoy productions, with Steve Gadd on drums, feature intricate drum patterns that don't quite fit in the four on the floor disco drum template. Then there's the heavily syncopated kick drum beat, like the one on this track:



John Davis also used a syncopated beat on Lucy Hawkin's Gotta Get Outta Here:

Gotta Get Outta Here

Got To Be Real by Cheryl Lynn is probably the most well known sycopated beat in a disco tune.

Disco Funk

[discopsycho]

Thanks, DF.

I had to google to learn more about "shuffle" and "syncopation". I've always known the sounds, but didn't know the names and mechanics.

My next question would be about the structure of disco music. Specifically the 4/4 time and four-bar phrases. Are there any significant tracks that deviated from this standard? And, how did the standard become just that, the standard?

[Disco Funk]

Thanks, DF.

I had to google to learn more about "shuffle" and "syncopation". I've always known the sounds, but didn't know the names and mechanics.

My next question would be about the structure of disco music. Specifically the 4/4 time and four-bar phrases. Are there any significant tracks that deviated from this standard? And, how did the standard become just that, the standard?

I'm not quite sure what other type of measure you're looking for. Do you mean something like a waltz in 3/4 time? A shuffle might qualify as a sort of waltz because it's a series of smaller 1-2-3 counts. Or possibly a bossa nova, which isn't 4/4 time? I don't recall a bossa nova disco tune. And for waltzes, there was the Blue Danube Hustle, which I believe is a classical waltz, but it was modified to work in the 4/4 disco structure.



As for the standard, well, I guess it's because dance music works best in the 4/4 time, whether it's soul or pop or whatever. Also, the focus on the beat (i.e. no syncopation on the kick drum or snare) was probably better for faster dancing and faster playing. If you notice from my clips above, the tracks with the syncopated beats tend to be of a lower bpm.

Disco Funk