Rhythm
Syncopation
Syncopation is attacking a note or chord on a weak beat or offbeat and holding it through the next strong beat, which shifts the accent away from where the ear expects it.
What is syncopation in music?
In a bar of 4/4, the ear expects weight on beats 1 and 3. Syncopation attacks a sound on a weak part of the bar, such as the and of 2, and holds it through the next strong beat: beat 3 goes by with no new attack. The accent shifts, and the music gains forward motion.
In a broader sense, any rhythm whose accents fall on the offbeats rather than the beats is called syncopated. It is the core ingredient of funk, reggae, bossa nova and a lot of pop.
Where is the syncopation in a strumming pattern?
D DU UDU, the most common strumming pattern, contains a syncopation:
| 1 | and | 2 | and | 3 | and | 4 | and |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | D | U | U | D | U |
The upstroke on the and of 2 rings until the and of 3: beat 3 is never struck. Compare it with four downstrokes, D D D D, on a G chord: same tempo, but the first pattern sounds far more alive. To play it well, keep your hand moving and swing over the strings on beat 3.
What is a chord anticipation (push)?
It is the most useful syncopation for accompaniment: the new chord arrives an eighth note before the bar line, on the and of 4, and is held through beat 1.
Example with G to C: strum G normally on 1, 2 and 3, then hit C on the and of 4 and let it ring without strumming again on the next 1. In rock and pop, the drummer often marks this push with a cymbal. On a score, an anticipation shows up as an eighth note tied to a note in the next bar.
How do you practise syncopation in funk?
Funk lives on sixteenth notes, counted 1 e and a. Take E9 (x-7-6-7-7-7) and keep your strumming hand moving constantly, one down and one up per eighth note.
- Rest your fingers on the chord without pressing, so the strings are muted, and strum sixteen strokes per bar.
- Press down only on the a of 1 and the e of 3: those two strokes ring, the rest stay percussive.
- Start at 70 BPM, then go up 4 BPM at a time.
Set the metronome in the guitar toolbox to quarter notes: every click should land while your hand is moving down.
Key takeaways
- Syncopation attacks a weak part of the beat and holds it through the next strong beat.
- D DU UDU contains a syncopation: beat 3 is not struck.
- An anticipation lands the chord on the and of 4, before the bar line.
- Keep your strumming hand moving constantly to place syncopations effortlessly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between syncopation and an offbeat?
An offbeat note is played on a weak part of the beat and followed by silence on the strong beat: the reggae skank on every and is the classic example. A syncopation holds the note through the strong beat. Both shift the accent, but syncopation creates a sustain, the offbeat a gap.
Are syncopation and swing the same thing?
No. Swing changes the length of eighth notes (long, short), while syncopation moves the accents. They are often combined: in jazz, a swung phrase that anticipates beat 1 is both swung and syncopated.
How can you tell if a syncopation is in time?
Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and out loud as you play, at a slow tempo. If you lose the count at the syncopated note, slow down. Record yourself with a metronome and check that the next strong beat lands exactly on the click. The principle holds in any time signature: in 6/8, a typical syncopation strikes eighth note 3 and holds it through 4.
Related terms
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