Four-on-the-floor (orfour-to-the-floor) is arhythm used primarily in dance genres such asdisco andelectronic dance music. It is a steady, uniformly accentedbeat in4
4 time in which thebass drum is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4).[1]This was popularized in thedisco music of the 1970s[2]and the termfour-on-the-floor was widely used in that era, since the beat was played with the pedal-operated, drum-kit bass drum.[3][4]
Four on the floor was common injazz drumming untilbebop styles expanded rhythmic roles beyond the basics in the 1940s.[5]Garage rock bands of the 1960s such asthe Troggs andthe Seeds used four-on-the-floor on some of their hits.[6]
Many styles ofelectronic dance music use this beat as an important part of the rhythmic structure.[1] Sometimes the term is used to refer to a 4/4 uniform drumming pattern for any drum.[7]
A form of four-on-the-floor is also used injazz drumming. Instead of hitting thebass 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 insyncopation. When astring instrument makes the rhythm (rhythm guitar,banjo), all four beats of themeasure are played by identical downstrokes.[original research?]
Inreggae drumming, the bass drum usually hits on the third beat but sometimes drummers play four on the floor.Sly Dunbar fromSly and Robbie was one of thereggae drummers who played mostly in this style. AlsoCarlton Barrett fromBob Marley and the Wailers played four on the floor on several hits by the Wailers like "Is This Love" and "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 asdancehall, while it is less common to find it inroots reggae. In the roots context, it is generally referred to as a "steppers" rhythm.
Sgubhu, a variant ofgqom and a type ofSouth 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 akick pattern reminiscent of thethree-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.[8][9][10]