When do you clap?

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

I was at a show the other day and people were clapping all over the place.  I generally clap on 2 & 4 (the backbeat) - I was thinking when a band is onstage playing they must have to learn to ignore the clapping of the audience.

I had this discussion with a friend and they were quite passionate about clapping on the 1 & 3.....so I let it go but thought I'd ask here since we are all musicians.

[Scriptor]

I don't want to mess up the band, so I clap after the song is over ... 

[cigarfan]

Always on the downbeat!

[S MS Picker]

When what I hear pleases me.Sometimes even when another player that I'm on stage with adds a little something different.

[not darth]

I saw this on Pinterest the other day:



I actually never gave it that much thought, I do what feels/sounds right.  If I start thinking about it I'd probably screw it up, LOL!

-K

[bo1142]

I clap on 2 & 4.  It's quite funny to see old white guys...the clap on 1.75 and 2.5

[dcarey]

I clap when I'm happy and I know it 

[Cindy]

I was at a show the other day and people were clapping all over the place.  I generally clap on 2 & 4 (the backbeat) - I was thinking when a band is onstage playing they must have to learn to ignore the clapping of the audience.

I had this discussion with a friend and they were quite passionate about clapping on the 1 & 3.....so I let it go but thought I'd ask here since we are all musicians.

Like you, I prefer to clap on the backbeat.

Has anyone ever paid attention to shows such as American Idol where the audiences tend to clap? Sometimes when people first start to clap to the music, part of the audience may clap on beats 1 & 3 while the others clap on 2 & 4; however, before the end of the song, the majority are clapping on 2 & 4.

EDIT

I wonder what the consensus is with UK audiences?

[Gutch]

What if it's in 3/4 time?

[rcoolz]

When  the BOSS lady doesnt object to getting another Taylor!!.......I play mando in a bluegrass band....  No drums in bluegrass so the mandolin keeps the tempo.... playing on the 2 and 4 beat.....The crowd clapping  off time  doesnt bother me( only if they dont clap when were done with a song...Now that could be BAD!....My boss lady has NO  sense of timing  and cannot carry a tune ....I think These go together !!   MY  2 cents worth

[flaggerphil]

I've never actually thought of it...

 

[Cindy]

What if it's in 3/4 time?

A slow-paced 3/4 song probably won't elicit clapping because it's like a waltz, but when a 3/4 song is played at a fast enough tempo, it can give the feeling of 1/1 (with each quarter note *feeling* like a part of a triplet). In that case, most likely the clap would fall on the first beat.

1 2 3 1 2 3

[cotten]

I clap when I'm happy and I know it 

Since I get to work with preschoolers sometimes, this was EXACTLY my thought! 

If I'm performing and am supposed to clap, I'll clap when I'm supposed to. If I'm in the audience and am supposed to be listening, that's what I'll do. I've heard too many audiences start clapping and get so loud that they drown out the music. Either that or they speed up and cause problems.

I don't clap along unless invited. Then in 4/4, it's likely on  1  2 & 3 & 4 & duh...  On the beat clapping is for sissies.   

cotten

[Saxacat]

Haven't got a clue; I just clap to whatever feels/sounds right.

My lack of understanding here probably says a lot about my guitar playing ability 

[mgap]

I just clap with the rest of the crowd.  However my wife claps like Steve Martin in the movie the Jerk, and she is in the church choir =. LOL