imported>Tduk: Undid revision 1322077156 by ~2025-31800-46 (talk) this word is open to interpretation

2025-11-14T13:11:43Z

Undid revision 1322077156 by ~2025-31800-46 (talk) this word is open to interpretation

← Previous revision		Revision as of 13:11, 14 November 2025
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	'''Four-on-the-floor''' (or '''four-to-the-floor''') is a [[rhythm]] used primarily in dance genres such as [[disco]] and [[electronic dance music]]. It is a steady, uniformly accented [[beat (music)\|beat]] in [[Time signature\|{{music\|time\|4\|4}} time]] in which the [[bass drum]] is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4).<ref name="Snoman">"The Dance Music Manual: Tools, Toys and Techniques," [[Rick Snoman]] (2004) {{ISBN\|0-240-51915-9}}</ref>		'''Four-on-the-floor''' (or '''four-to-the-floor''') is a [[rhythm]] used primarily in dance genres such as [[disco]] and [[electronic dance music]]. It is a steady, uniformly accented [[beat (music)\|beat]] in [[Time signature\|{{music\|time\|4\|4}} time]] in which the [[bass drum]] is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4).<ref name="Snoman">"The Dance Music Manual: Tools, Toys and Techniques," [[Rick Snoman]] (2004) {{ISBN\|0-240-51915-9}}</ref>
	This was popularized in the [[disco]] music of the 1970s<ref>[[Peter Shapiro (journalist)\|Shapiro, Peter]]. (2000) ''[[Modulations: A History of Electronic Music\|Modulations: a History of Electronic Music: Throbbing Words on Sound]]'', London: [[Distributed Art Publishers]], {{ISBN\|1-891024-06-X}}, p. 40</ref>		This was popularized in the [[disco]] music of the 1970s<ref>[[Peter Shapiro (journalist)\|Shapiro, Peter]]. (2000) ''[[Modulations: A History of Electronic Music\|Modulations: a History of Electronic Music: Throbbing Words on Sound]]'', London: [[Distributed Art Publishers]], {{ISBN\|1-891024-06-X}}, p. 40</ref>
	and the term ''four-on-the-floor'' was widely used in that era, since the beat ~~was~~ played with the pedal-operated, drum-kit bass drum.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://drummingreview.com/four-on-the-floor/\|title=Four On the Floor: Modern Music's Most Popular Rhythmic Pattern\|website=DrummingReview.com\|date=9 February 2022\|access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-rhythm-explained\|title=Four-on-the-Floor Rhythm Explained\|website=MasterClass.com\|date=25 February 2022\|access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref>		and the term ''four-on-the-floor'' was widely used in that era, since on a [[drum set]], the beat is played with the pedal-operated, drum-kit bass drum.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://drummingreview.com/four-on-the-floor/\|title=Four On the Floor: Modern Music's Most Popular Rhythmic Pattern\|website=DrummingReview.com\|date=9 February 2022\|access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-rhythm-explained\|title=Four-on-the-Floor Rhythm Explained\|website=MasterClass.com\|date=25 February 2022\|access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref>

	Four on the floor was common in [[jazz]] drumming until [[bebop]] styles expanded rhythmic roles beyond the basics in the 1940s.<ref>{{cite book \|title=The Jazz Bass Book: Technique and Tradition \|last=Goldsby \|first=John \|date=2002 \|publisher=Hal Leonard \|page=xi \|isbn=9780879307165}}</ref> [[Garage rock]] bands of the 1960s such as [[the Troggs]] and [[the Seeds]] used four-on-the-floor on some of their hits.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=June 7, 2021 \|title=Four-on-the-Floor Rhythm Explained \|url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-rhythm-explained \|website=[[masterclass.com]]}}</ref>		Four on the floor was common in [[jazz]] drumming until [[bebop]] styles expanded rhythmic roles beyond the basics in the 1940s.<ref>{{cite book \|title=The Jazz Bass Book: Technique and Tradition \|last=Goldsby \|first=John \|date=2002 \|publisher=Hal Leonard \|page=xi \|isbn=9780879307165}}</ref> [[Garage rock]] bands of the 1960s such as [[the Troggs]] and [[the Seeds]] used four-on-the-floor on some of their hits.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=June 7, 2021 \|title=Four-on-the-Floor Rhythm Explained \|url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-rhythm-explained \|website=[[masterclass.com]]}}</ref>

imported>Tryasyoumay: /* In African music */ Africa isn't a country, etc. The only example here is from RSA.

2025-06-09T23:18:15Z

In African music: Africa isn't a country, etc. The only example here is from RSA.

New page

{{Short description|Rhythm used in contemporary music}}
{{redirect|Four to the floor|the song by Starsailor|Four to the Floor|the British music television program|Four to the Floor (TV series)}}
{{other uses|Four on the Floor (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Four to the floor bass dru.png|thumb|right|upright=1.5|"Four on the floor" on the bass drum {{Audio|Four to the floor beat.mid|play within typical rock beat}} and {{audio|Four to the floor bass drum pattern.mid|Play alone}}]]

'''Four-on-the-floor''' (or '''four-to-the-floor''') is a [[rhythm]] used primarily in dance genres such as [[disco]] and [[electronic dance music]]. It is a steady, uniformly accented [[beat (music)|beat]] in [[Time signature|{{music|time|4|4}} time]] in which the [[bass drum]] is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4).<ref name="Snoman">"The Dance Music Manual: Tools, Toys and Techniques," [[Rick Snoman]] (2004) {{ISBN|0-240-51915-9}}</ref>
This was popularized in the [[disco]] music of the 1970s<ref>[[Peter Shapiro (journalist)|Shapiro, Peter]]. (2000) ''[[Modulations: A History of Electronic Music|Modulations: a History of Electronic Music: Throbbing Words on Sound]]'', London: [[Distributed Art Publishers]], {{ISBN|1-891024-06-X}}, p. 40</ref>
and the term ''four-on-the-floor'' was widely used in that era, since the beat was played with the pedal-operated, drum-kit bass drum.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://drummingreview.com/four-on-the-floor/|title=Four On the Floor: Modern Music's Most Popular Rhythmic Pattern|website=DrummingReview.com|date=9 February 2022|access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-rhythm-explained|title=Four-on-the-Floor Rhythm Explained|website=MasterClass.com|date=25 February 2022|access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref>

Four on the floor was common in [[jazz]] drumming until [[bebop]] styles expanded rhythmic roles beyond the basics in the 1940s.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Jazz Bass Book: Technique and Tradition |last=Goldsby |first=John |date=2002 |publisher=Hal Leonard |page=xi |isbn=9780879307165}}</ref> [[Garage rock]] bands of the 1960s such as [[the Troggs]] and [[the Seeds]] used four-on-the-floor on some of their hits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2021 |title=Four-on-the-Floor Rhythm Explained |url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-rhythm-explained |website=[[masterclass.com]]}}</ref>

Many styles of [[electronic dance music]] use this beat as an important part of the rhythmic structure.<ref name=Snoman/> Sometimes the term is used to refer to a 4/4 uniform drumming pattern for any drum.<ref>Miller, Michael. ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums'', 2004. {{ISBN|1-59257-162-X}}</ref>

A form of four-on-the-floor is also used in [[jazz drumming]]. Instead of hitting the [[bass drum]] in a pronounced and therefore easily audible fashion, it is usually struck very lightly (referred to as "feathering") so that the sound of the drum is felt instead of heard by the listener. Typically, this is combined with a ride cymbal and hi-hat in [[syncopation]]. When a [[string instrument]] makes the rhythm ([[rhythm guitar]], [[banjo]]), all four beats of the [[bar (music)|measure]] are played by identical downstrokes.{{or|date=February 2025}}

In [[reggae]] drumming, the bass drum usually hits on the third beat but sometimes drummers play four on the floor. [[Sly Dunbar]] from [[Sly and Robbie]] was one of the [[reggae]] drummers who played mostly in this style. Also [[Carlton Barrett]] from [[Bob Marley and the Wailers]] played four on the floor on several hits by the Wailers like "[[Is This Love (Bob Marley and the Wailers song)|Is This Love]]" and "[[Exodus (Bob Marley and the Wailers song)|Exodus]]". In reggae, four on the floor usually goes by the hand with a low end and powerful bassline. Four on the floor can be found in more modern reggae derivative styles such as [[dancehall]], while it is less common to find it in [[roots reggae]]. In the roots context, it is generally referred to as a "steppers" rhythm.

== Stylistic differences ==

=== In South African music ===
{{Main article|Gqom}}
[[Gqom#Sgubhu|Sgubhu]], a variant of [[gqom]] and a type of [[South Africa|South African]] electronic dance music, shares some traits with gqom but sets itself apart with its beat structure. Unlike standard gqom, sgubhu is characterized by a much steadier kick drum pattern although having a [[Kick drum|kick]] pattern reminiscent of the [[Gqom#3-Step|three-step rhythm]], often adhering to a consistent four-on-the-floor rhythm, which aligns more closely with traditional four-on-the-floor electronic dance music. There were several pioneers of the sgubhu genre, including record producer Emo Kid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keith |first=James |date=11 October 2017 |title=Premiere: Emo Kid Explains South African Club Sound 'Sghubu', Shares New Track "Asbambeki" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/premiere-emo-kid-asbambeki-interview |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=Complex |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2019 |title=Afropop Worldwide {{!}} The Gqom Generation of Durban, South Africa |url=https://afropop.org/audio-programs/the-gqom-generation-of-durban-south-africa |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=Afropop Worldwide |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Eoin |date=2020-10-15 |title=Selections: Griffit Vigo |url=https://djmag.com/longreads/selections-griffit-vigo |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=DJ Mag |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Disco music-footer}}

[[Category:Electronic dance music]]
[[Category:Disco]]
[[Category:Rhythm and meter]]

Four on the floor (music) - Revision history

imported>Tduk: Undid revision 1322077156 by ~2025-31800-46 (talk) this word is open to interpretation

imported>Tryasyoumay: /* In African music */ Africa isn't a country, etc. The only example here is from RSA.