Syncopation: shifting expected emphasis

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Rhythmic relationships

Syncopation can emphasise a metrically weaker position or sustain a sound across an expected stronger one. Its effect depends on the surrounding accent pattern; an offbeat note is not automatically a dramatic syncopation.

Keep the underlying beat while listening to the phrase entrances and ties. Counting only attacks can hide the way a sustained note covers a strong position. Bass, drums and melody can create different layers of emphasis without abandoning the meter.

Example

A note starting on the “and” of beat one and tied across beat two can create syncopation.

Try it

Should the underlying count stop during syncopation?

Related topics

References

Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom

Subject-expert review pending.