The most common thought on strong and weak beats (in 4/4 time) goes as follows: The first beat of the measure is the strongest (it's the “downbeat”). The third beat of the measure is also strong, but not as strong as the first. The second and fourth beats are weak.
Beat—Beat also has more than one meaning, but always refers to music with a steady pulse. It may refer to the pulse itself (as in “play this note on beat two of the measure”). On the beat or on the downbeat refer to the moment when the pulse is strongest.
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The most common thought on strong and weak beats (in 4/4 time) goes as follows: The first beat of the measure is the strongest (it's the “downbeat”). The third beat of the measure is also strong, but not as strong as the first. The second and fourth beats are weak.
Beat—Beat also has more than one meaning, but always refers to music with a steady pulse. It may refer to the pulse itself (as in “play this note on beat two of the measure”). On the beat or on the downbeat refer to the moment when the pulse is strongest.