Refers to the very beginning of each beat If a measure is counted 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and then the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 are considered to be the down-beat, while each 'and' count is the Up-beat and refers to the strongest or accented beats in each measure In 4/4-time music the downbeats are the 1 and the 3 (The upbeats are 2 and 4)
In music, the upbeat is the beat before the first beat of the bar. downbeat. positive and making you feel that good things will happen downbeat
If people or their opinions are upbeat, they are cheerful and hopeful about a situation. The Defense Secretary gave an upbeat assessment of the war so far Neil's colleagues say he was actually in a joking, upbeat mood = positive
One or more notes occurring before the first bar line, as necessitated by the text for the purpose of desirable accent The unaccented beat of a measure
The last beat of a measure, a weak beat, which anticipates the downbeat, the first beat of the next measure [Rhythm]