Level 2 · Steady Time
2-3 - Backbeat skeleton
Bass on 1 & 3, snare on 2 & 4 - the skeleton of pop music.
How to practice it
Bass tones on beats 1 and 3, snares on beats 2 and 4, with the metronome. This is kick-and-snare on one box. Make beats 2 and 4 (the backbeat) confident - they're what makes people nod their heads.
Suggested take: ~60s · start 70 BPM → pass around 90 BPM
1
B
2
S
3
B
4
S
70 BPM
Start at 70, exercise passes around 90. Legend: B bass · S snare · g ghost · - rest
Tips
- • The snare answers the bass: call, response, call, response.
- • Slightly favor the snare in volume - the backbeat leads the dance.
- • Stay relaxed on the position switch; it's the same move as 1-4, faster.
Watch out for
- • Snare arriving late because the hand travels from center
- • Bass and snare sounding alike (contrast collapsing under tempo)
- • Tempo lurching at the switch points
Record your take
Aim for ~60s. Put the phone ~1m away, facing the front plate. You'll get Rafa's feedback within a minute of submitting.
Up next after this: 2-4 - Loud bar, soft bar