Four-on-the-floor is a rhythmic pattern. The kick drum usually plays on all four beats of a 4/4 bar, and the snare will play on the second and fourth beats.

Four-on-the-floor beat

Four-on-the-floor beat

Electronic dance music (EDM) has a pulsating and infectious energy that's hard to resist, thanks to its signature four-to-the-floor beat. This rhythm provides a steady and driving foundation for the music, and at the heart of it, all is the bass drum, also known as the kick drum. The four-to-the-floor beat is a staple in many genres, including disco music, one of the earliest sources of EDM. Disco's use of the bass drum as the driving force behind the music laid the groundwork for the modern-day dance floor, ushering in a sound that music lovers worldwide have embraced. But you can find a similar drum pattern in almost every genre.