Downbeat
noun
The first beat in a bar of music.
The conductor gave a downbeat, and the orchestra began to play.
Often appears as...
- give a downbeat
- start on the downbeat
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Feeling or spreading a sense of gloom or discouragement.
The meeting ended on a downbeat note with no resolution in sight.
Often appears as...
- feel downbeat
- downbeat mood
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
The first beat in a bar of music.
The conductor gave a downbeat, and the orchestra began to play.
Often appears as...
- give a downbeat
- start on the downbeat
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Feeling or spreading a sense of gloom or discouragement.
The meeting ended on a downbeat note with no resolution in sight.
Often appears as...
- feel downbeat
- downbeat mood
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Music Context
Used mainly in musical scenes, especially when discussing rhythm and timing.
Wait for the downbeat before you start singing.
Pro Tip 2/3Conductor's Cue
In orchestras, the conductor's first gesture often indicates the downbeat.
Watch for the conductor's downbeat to know when to begin.
Pro Tip 3/3Counting In
Dancers and musicians count in starting on the downbeat to stay synchronized.
She counted '5, 6, 7, 8' and stepped on the downbeat.
Pro Tip 1/3Music Context
Used mainly in musical scenes, especially when discussing rhythm and timing.
Wait for the downbeat before you start singing.
Pro Tip 2/3Conductor's Cue
In orchestras, the conductor's first gesture often indicates the downbeat.
Watch for the conductor's downbeat to know when to begin.
Pro Tip 3/3Counting In
Dancers and musicians count in starting on the downbeat to stay synchronized.
She counted '5, 6, 7, 8' and stepped on the downbeat.
Pro Tip 1/3Music Context
Used mainly in musical scenes, especially when discussing rhythm and timing.
Wait for the downbeat before you start singing.
Pro Tip 2/3Conductor's Cue
In orchestras, the conductor's first gesture often indicates the downbeat.
Watch for the conductor's downbeat to know when to begin.
Pro Tip 3/3Counting In
Dancers and musicians count in starting on the downbeat to stay synchronized.
She counted '5, 6, 7, 8' and stepped on the downbeat.
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Video examples
Weird, or just...
as the downbeat, the beginning of the musical one, two, three, four. But in West African music, the "one" is thought of as the end of the phrase, like the period at the end of a sentence. So, you can hear it not just in the phrasing, but the way they count off their two, three, four, one.
Video examples
Weird, or just...
as the downbeat, the beginning of the musical one, two, three, four. But in West African music, the "one" is thought of as the end of the phrase, like the period at the end of a sentence. So, you can hear it not just in the phrasing, but the way they count off their two, three, four, one.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Christopher Fowler
English Writer
Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to crime: the realistically detailed police procedural, usually grim and downbeat, and the more left-field, joyous theatre of ideas in which past masters once specialised. Knowing that I would never be able to handle the former, I set about reviving the latter.
Quote examples
Dan Smith
British Musician
There's always room to make stuff that is completely morose and downbeat, but we'd probably spiral into a state of complete despair if our music reflected the lyrics all the time. I think that's almost the fun game with some songs, is this complete tearing of two feelings at once.
Quote examples
Marian Keyes
Irish Writer
I used to feel defensive when people would say, 'Yes, but your books have happy endings', as if that made them worthless, or unrealistic. Some people do get happy endings, even if it's only for a while. I would rather never be published again than write a downbeat ending.
Quote examples
Itzhak Perlman
Israeli Musician
If you put four different people on a podium conducting the same downbeat, you get four different sounds. It's a little mysterious and fascinating. There's so much you can do with motions and body movements besides giving accurate beats.
Quote examples
Scott Parker
I keep telling the players to enjoy the good moments. There are too many moments in this world currently that are pretty miserable and downbeat, so if there is light at certain times, I want them to enjoy it.
Quote examples
John Sandford
American Novelist
A lot of cops in fiction are very depressive and are kind of downbeat, and they've got all kinds of existential angst that they're dealing with.
Quote examples
Loretta Young
American Actress
I want no part of making any contribution whatsoever to the despair which eventually follows downbeat thinking.
Quote examples
Miles Davis
American Musician
Space music'd be really something... but they don't have no gravity up there. You couldn't have no downbeat!
Quote examples
Christopher Fowler
English Writer
Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to crime: the realistically detailed police procedural, usually grim and downbeat, and the more left-field, joyous theatre of ideas in which past masters once specialised. Knowing that I would never be able to handle the former, I set about reviving the latter.
Quote examples
Dan Smith
British Musician
There's always room to make stuff that is completely morose and downbeat, but we'd probably spiral into a state of complete despair if our music reflected the lyrics all the time. I think that's almost the fun game with some songs, is this complete tearing of two feelings at once.
Quote examples
Marian Keyes
Irish Writer
I used to feel defensive when people would say, 'Yes, but your books have happy endings', as if that made them worthless, or unrealistic. Some people do get happy endings, even if it's only for a while. I would rather never be published again than write a downbeat ending.
Quote examples
Itzhak Perlman
Israeli Musician
If you put four different people on a podium conducting the same downbeat, you get four different sounds. It's a little mysterious and fascinating. There's so much you can do with motions and body movements besides giving accurate beats.
Quote examples
Scott Parker
I keep telling the players to enjoy the good moments. There are too many moments in this world currently that are pretty miserable and downbeat, so if there is light at certain times, I want them to enjoy it.
Quote examples
John Sandford
American Novelist
A lot of cops in fiction are very depressive and are kind of downbeat, and they've got all kinds of existential angst that they're dealing with.
Quote examples
Loretta Young
American Actress
I want no part of making any contribution whatsoever to the despair which eventually follows downbeat thinking.
Quote examples
Miles Davis
American Musician
Space music'd be really something... but they don't have no gravity up there. You couldn't have no downbeat!
Example 1 of 8
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