Advanced Rhythms and Patterns

Syncopation is when you put emphasis on unexpected beats. Instead of the strong beat falling on 1 and 3 (the normal beats), syncopation puts emphasis on the AND counts or on beats 2 and 4.

Normal rhythm: ONE two THREE four (emphasis on 1 and 3)

Syncopated rhythm: one TWO three FOUR (emphasis on 2 and 4)

Off-beat syncopation: one AND two AND (emphasis between the beats)

Syncopation makes music feel funky, groovy, and exciting! It is what makes you want to dance. Jazz, funk, hip-hop, reggae, and Latin music all use lots of syncopation.

Try this syncopated pattern:

rest CLAP rest CLAP (silence on 1 and 3, clap on 2 and 4)

Feel how different that is from:

CLAP rest CLAP rest (clap on 1 and 3, silence on 2 and 4)

The second version feels like marching. The first version feels like grooving. Same notes, different placement, completely different feeling!