The beat is what every person feels when listening to music, even without musical training. It is the natural pulse that holds the entire composition together.
In 4/4 time there are four beats: one (strong), two (weak), three (relatively strong), four (weak). Understanding this hierarchy helps the performer accent correctly and the listener feel the phrasing.
Beats divide into strong and weak, and it is their alternation that creates metre — the regular pulsation onto which rhythm is laid. Beat speed is measured in BPM (beats per minute): 60 BPM is one beat per second. In dance and electronic music an even, emphasised beat becomes the backbone of the track, and the ability to hold the beat precisely is a basic skill of every ensemble musician.
