Music moves through time in a series of regular pulses. Each pulse is a beat. Listeners tap their feet or nod their heads to this underlying grid even when the surface rhythms grow complex.

Beats are grouped into measures by the meter. A steady beat provides the framework against which syncopation, rubato, and rhythmic interplay become meaningful. Tempo describes how fast those beats succeed one another. In performance the beat may be strict or gently flexible according to style and expressive need.

Drummers and bass players often articulate the beat clearly so the rest of the ensemble can lock in. Conductors show the beat with the baton or the hand. In some genres the beat is felt more than heard, yet its presence organizes everything else.

• Basic unit of musical time
• Organized into measures by meter
• Provides the framework for rhythm
• Can be strict or flexible in performance