Off Beat Songs

[Brackett481]

Are all songs supposed to be sung off beat, or are there some that are sung on beat? This has come up a few times with some of the songs I was taught. I was taught a song by someone only to have someone else either related to the writer, or the actual writer himself correct me on it. I would be greatful for help.

Does this differ from northern to southern?

[Wojapi4Me]

I've never heard of any song that is supposed to be sung on beat. They may exist, but I don't know any and have never heard of any.

But, then again, maybe all songs are supposed to be sung on beat when in the state of Alabama? But, when you leave the state they are sung off beat again

[Mato Winyan]

[chazziff]

[danbear]

those songs

alot of those songs we were taught i imagine were originally off beat and who gave us those songs changed them to on beat cawz they couldn't sing off beat, those songs are northern songs so im pretty sure they're sung off beat. but i don't know...maybe maybe not, now all the songs i sing are off beat....i've thought about this a time or two myself

[chazziff]

how does one even start to sing on beat? - my hubby just does it to make me laff .. lol. is it just certain lead singers who get the rest of their singers to sing like them? i guess you can only learn what's taught to you ...

[WhoMe]

What exactly IS on beat, off beat?

Is it like wax on, wax off?

[danbear]

from a musical stand point

whome, sing on the up beat of the drum, to sing on beat with the drum would be to start the lead on top/same time as the stick strikes the drum, to sing off beat is to start the lead between the beats. not sure if that makes since, but the best way to explain it or say you take 4 beats 1 2 3 4, 1&3 would be your down beat(striking the drum and 2&4 would be your up beat(or off beat when the stick is in the air) to sing on the down beat you'd start singin on the count of one if you were to sing offbeat you'd sing on the count of 2 or the off beat...well crap i hope that makes since

[WhoMe]

whome, sing on the up beat of the drum, to sing on beat with the drum would be to start the lead on top/same time as the stick strikes the drum, to sing off beat is to start the lead between the beats. not sure if that makes since, but the best way to explain it or say you take 4 beats 1 2 3 4, 1&3 would be your down beat(striking the drum and 2&4 would be your up beat(or off beat when the stick is in the air) to sing on the down beat you'd start singin on the count of one if you were to sing offbeat you'd sing on the count of 2 or the off beat...well crap i hope that makes since

danbear,

I've never heard of powwow music being broken down like that, in musical terms.


Heck, I just start beating and sing ... and the people dance!

I wonder what I sing? On beat, or off beat - wax on, or wax off?

Heck, I dont' even care .... just as long as the people dance!

[suthernwaterbird]

Never sing on beat. Ruins the song. Often ruins the dance, and commonly recieves negative feedback to the drum and singers. Take the advice, and use it. That is if you want to improve your current reputation.

[Brackett481]

The way I was taught...

All of the songs I know how to sing, I was taught to sing on beat. I have very rarely heard any complaint or had someone correct me or the drum i sing with.

[danbear]

danbear,

I've never heard of powwow music being broken down like that, in musical terms.


Heck, I just start beating and sing ... and the people dance!

I wonder what I sing? On beat, or off beat - wax on, or wax off?

Heck, I dont' even care .... just as long as the people dance!

pretty sure you sing correctly and sing off beat??? any form of music can be broken down in "musical terms" i've seen songs put into music notation as well, but like you i just starting drumming and singin...but when i 1st started drumming i was taught to drum onbeat and that is obviously incorrect and i have been taught to sing off beat by some generous people(jeff, jackie, jake, gazer, steven,etc.) a good friend and myself were ask to sing with them and they were nice enough to show us the correct way to drum...or whatever well i sing like i'm supposed to now...

[stomp]

Never sing on beat. Ruins the song. Often ruins the dance, and commonly recieves negative feedback to the drum and singers. Take the advice, and use it. That is if you want to improve your current reputation.

And negative depressed feeling from the dancers! Very hard to dance to on beat! Very hard to stay "upbeat" and happy when it doesn't sound right....boy this is a good place to talk about this, finally....

[Wojapi4Me]

All of the songs I know how to sing, I was taught to sing on beat. I have very rarely heard any complaint or had someone correct me or the drum i sing with.

Its hard to tell, but it seems like you're arguing with us.

If so, keep on singing on beat...but please stay in Alabama...the rest of us in Pow Wow Country don't want to have to hear it.

Oh, and get new teachers, mentors, or whatever you guys call them.

[danbear]

Its hard to tell, but it seems like you're arguing with us.

If so, keep on singing on beat...but please stay in Alabama...the rest of us in Pow Wow Country don't want to have to hear it.

Oh, and get new teachers, mentors, or whatever you guys call them.

well, man you've heard me i don't sing on beat anymore.
but there is a totally different feel to the songs when you sing off beat it has a more upbeat feeling and hell it just sounds right, and to dance to an offbeat drum feels so much better too