Afterbeat

Origin

From - + beat.

Full definition of afterbeat

Noun

1. (music) A secondary, weaker half of a musical beat.
• 1989, Leonard B. Meyer, Style and music: theory, history, and ideology:He does so by giving the first structural tone an afterbeat comparable to that which follows the second structural tone.
• 2007, Michael Campbell, James Brody, ROCK AND ROLL: AN INTRODUCTION:The most distinctive rhythmic feature of ska is a strong afterbeat: a strong, crisp chunk on the latter part of each beat.

Antonyms

• forebeat

Related terms

• downbeat