Both basic steps use the same two ingredients: the Rock step(2 quick steps) and the Triple step (3 steps over 2 beats — the extra one hides on the “and”). Only the order differs.
One bar = 4 beats. An 8-count = 2 bars in a row (8 beats). Press play: beats, numbers and feet all move together.
A 6-count is only 6 beats = 1.5 bars, so it never aligns with the barline — each repeat shifts 2 beats later. Watch how the “1” takes turns; the footwork below tells the same story.
An earlier-era step — a twisting 4-beat loop: kick forward, step back, kick back, step forward, repeat. A completely different counting system from 6- or 8-counts.
Pick a form and see how it breaks into 8-counts or 6-counts; playback lights up the chart in real time.
Many jazz standards share this shape: A A B A — 32 bars, 8 bars per section.
The theme — appears 3 times (sections 1, 2 and 4). Always familiar — it is the song’s home.
Appears only once, as section 3. Harmony and melody both change — the clearest “leave home and return” moment.
Tap a question to see the answer — these are the ones asked most often in class.
Based on this site’s 🌳 Jazz Tree timeline (same key figures and rhythm DNA), with each era’s social dances added on the right. To hear each era’s actual groove, follow the link below.
Swing is layered from several instruments, not one drum. Toggle each on or off to hear it alone or all together — the kit lights up as it plays.
🎯 Goal: feel the difference between stomping the accents and absorbing the pulse — and instantly understand how music and body line up.