drop
drop
/drɒp/
The point in an electronic dance music track where tension built up during a preceding section (the build-up) is released, typically marked by the sudden entry of a heavy bassline and full drum rhythm.
The drop is the emotional and physical climax of a dance track, designed to elicit a strong reaction from the crowd.
The story behind the word. While 'drop' has ancient Germanic roots referring to falling liquid, its musical slang usage evolved in the late 20th century club culture to describe the physical sensation of the beat 'dropping' back into the arrangement after being stripped away.
Word relationships
- climax: Climax is a general term for any high point of tension, whereas drop is a specific structural term in electronic dance music.
- breakdown: The breakdown is the quiet section of a track where the drums stop and tension begins to build, directly contrasting with the drop.
Commonly confused with
- chorus: A chorus is the melodic, lyrical refrain of a pop song, while a drop is a rhythm-and-bass-driven instrumental climax in dance music.
Word family
- drop (verb): To release the main beat and bassline in a track.
Collocations
- anticipate the drop
- heavy drop
- bass drop
Example sentences
- "When the drop finally hit after a two-minute build-up, the entire festival crowd erupted into frantic dancing." A description of a festival crowd.
- "The producer teased the listener with several false starts before unleashing a massive, distorted drop." A critique of a dubstep track.
Memory hook
Imagine climbing a massive roller coaster (the build-up) and then suddenly dropping down the steep hill (the drop). The drop is where the bass falls heavy.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to a gradual transition or a quiet, ambient section of a song.
Fun facts
- In some genres like drum and bass, producers use a 'double drop,' where they mix two different tracks so that their drops occur at the exact same millisecond.
Related words
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