If you listen to music that makes you want to move your body, bob your head, or just has an unmistakable sense of “groove,” it’s likely because of syncopation.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- What exactly syncopation is
- When you should (or shouldn’t) utilize syncopation in your compositions
- Real-life examples of syncopation in music
- Syncopation patterns you can implement in your music to make your melodies and rhythms more interesting
And, of course, we’ll analyze some examples of syncopation in video game music.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What is syncopation in music?
Syncopation in music occurs when the normal flow of rhythm is disrupted by stressing an off-beat or weak beat. This creates a more complex rhythm that can be used to add interest and variety to a piece of music.
There are many different “flavors” of syncopation, such as:
- Accents: An accent is a note that’s played with more emphasis than the surrounding notes. This can be done by playing the note louder, or by holding it for a longer duration.
- Off-beats: An off-beat is a weak beat that’s accented. This gives the impression that the music is “rushing” or “pressing forward.”
- Suspension: Suspension is when a note is played before the beat. This creates tension that’s released when the note falls on the beat.
We’ll explore many of these in detail throughout this post.
Why is syncopation important?
Syncopation is important for a few reasons.
First, it’s a great way to add interest and movement to a piece of music.
Second, it can create a sense of groove or “funkiness” that can breathe new life into an otherwise vanilla melody or rhythm.
And third, syncopation can be used to create tension and release – by accenting the weak beats, we create a sense of anticipation that’s released when the strong beat finally arrives.
In short, syncopation is a great tool for composers to add interest, movement, and tension to their music.
But fundamental to understanding syncopation is understanding the basics of strong and weak beats.
What are strong and weak beats?
Most music is in 4/4 time (hence the name “common time”), which means there are 4 beats in a measure and the quarter notes get 1 beat.
You can think of each measure as having 4 “beats” or “pulses.” And within each measure, some of those beats will be stronger than others.
By “stronger,” I mean that they naturally hold more importance in defining both the harmony and overall rhythm of a piece.
The first and third beats of a measure are typically the strongest, while the second and fourth beats are weaker.
It’s also worth noting that the downbeat (the first beat of a measure) is always the strongest beat.
Take a look at this sheet music and listen to the example.
Notice how it sounds “right” when the harmony changes on the strong beats.
Now, listen to how it sounds when the harmony changes on the weak beats. Kinda wonky, eh?
This is why most chord changes in common-time music happen on the first and third beats of a measure (as opposed to the weak beats).
So what happens when composers stress these so-called weak beats by playing rhythms or melodies over them?
Enter syncopation.
Subdividing beats for maximum funkiness
When rhythms, melodies, and accents emphasize weak beats, that’s syncopation. But not all syncopation in music is necessarily groovy or funky-sounding (as you’ll soon see in the examples below).
Here’s an interesting concept: when composers subdivide the beat (split those quarter notes into eighth notes or sixteenth notes, for example), those subdivisions become even weaker, making them even more prime candidates for syncopation.
This is why you’ll often find syncopation in groove-centric genres (like jazz, R&B, funk, and soul) – because the subdivisions are played on top of a steady pulse, creating a kind of push-pull effect that your body just can’t help but move to.
Take a listen to the bassline from Michael Jackon’s Thriller:
That funky vibe is due in large part to the displaced sixteenth note octave hit at the tail end of each measure. That’s what happens when you subdivide the beat and accent the weak beats. It’s syncopation!
What genres is syncopation most common in?
Syncopation is extremely common in today’s pop music, but it’s also used in a variety of other genres. Its origins can really be traced back to Latin and African rhythms, the influences of which have slowly melded into our contemporary genres.
Here are just a few examples of syncopation across genres:
- Pop: Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic
- Rock: Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, Muse’s Uprising
- Metal: Metallica’s Enter Sandman, Slayer’s Raining Blood
- Funk: Parliament’s Flash Light, Prince’s Kiss
- Hip-hop: Kendrick Lamar’s DNA., Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Hot
- Jazz: Miles Davis’ So What, John Coltrane’s Blue Train
- R&B: Beyonce’s Crazy In Love, Marvin Gaye’s I Heard It Through the Grapevine
As you can see, syncopation is used in a wide variety of genres – not just funk and hip-hop. In fact, it’s one of the defining characteristics of popular music as a whole.
Now that we know what syncopation is and how it works, let’s talk about some tried-and-true types of syncopation found in music.
Syncopated rhythms don’t just have to be played in percussive instruments (such as drums). Oftentimes, classical composers like Bach and Beethoven would use syncopated rhythms in the melodic line to create interest and variety.
Syncopation in dance music
Dance music is all about creating a groove that makes people want to move, so it’s no surprise that syncopation plays a major role.
A lot of times in dance music, the drums will play on the downbeats while the other instruments (bass, synths, leads, etc.) play off-kilter rhythms on the weak beats. This creates a sort of call-and-response effect that’s extremely catchy and danceable.
Check this out in Closer by Deadmau5, specifically at the 2:45 mark. Almost every single melodic hit is on the offbeat. Set against the backdrop of that steady kickdrum, it’s a recipe for making you wanna dance!
Types of syncopation in music
Suspension syncopation
One of the most common types of syncopation is suspension. This is when a note “suspends” over a chord change, creating tension that’s resolved when the note finally moves to the correct pitch.
This type of syncopation is often used in ballads and other slow-tempo songs to add harmonic interest.
Listen to this example and notice how each note carries over “into” the chord change:
Anticipation syncopation
Anticipation is another common type of syncopation. This happens when a note “anticipates” a chord change by moving early to a pitch in the imminent harmony.
Off-beat syncopation
This is probably the type of syncopation you think of when you hear the word. Off-beat syncopation happens when a note, melody, or rhythm falls on one of the weak beats in a measure.
This is extremely common in popular music, especially in genres like funk, hip-hop, and pop.
Now listen to what happens when we shift our rhythm over by just one eighth note.
And even more aggressively, when we shift it over to the last sixteenth note:
Syncopation in polyrhythms
A polyrhythm is when two (or more) rhythms are played at the same time, creating a complex interlocking pattern.
Polyrhythms are often found in jazz and other groove-based genres of music. They’re created by playing one rhythm against another, usually with one instrument playing a fastiddle-like rhythmic part while the other keeps a slower, more steady pulse going.
This can create some really interesting effects, especially when the two rhythms combine to form interesting harmonic patterns.
Hemiola
Hemiola is a type of polyrhythm that’s created by playing two rhythms against each other in an alternating 3:2 or 2:3 ratio.
This means that for every three notes played in one rhythm, there are two notes played in the other. Or, conversely, for every two notes played in one rhythm, there are three notes played in the other.
Hemiola can create a really interesting effect, especially when it’s used to shift the focus of a melody from one harmony to another.
Cross-rhythms
Cross-rhythms are created when two rhythms are played against each other in an unequal ratio, such as 3:4 or 5:8.
This can create a really confusing and disorienting effect, especially if the two rhythms are in different meters (such as 4/4 and 6/8).
Syncopation examples in video game music
In my course on composing video game music, I dedicate an entire lesson to syncopation. That’s how important it is!
Check out this excerpt from my syncopation lesson:
Syncopation examples in Latin music
Latin music is notorious for having some of the most syncopated rhythms in the world.
This is because Latin music often uses a lot of syncopated percussion instruments, such as congas, bongos, and timbales.
Latin music also frequently employs clave, a rhythmic pattern that’s played on two wooden sticks. This pattern is then duplicated on other instruments, creating a complex web of interlocking rhythms.
Here’s an example of clave being played on congas:
Other Latin rhythms to explore include:
- Bossa Nova
- Salsa
- Reggaeton
- Songo
- Mambo
- Samba
- Partido Alto
- Cha-Cha
And that’s honestly just scratching the surface! Latin rhythms are a deep rabbit hole of rhythmic complexity. You won’t regret getting lost there.
Syncopation examples in African music
African music is another great example of syncopated rhythms. This is because African music often uses a lot of percussion instruments, such as drums, xylophones, and marimbas.
African music also frequently employs call-and-response patterns, where one person sings or plays a phrase and then the other people respond with their own phrase. This can create a really complex web of syncopated rhythms.
Here’s an example of call-and-response being used in African music:
Other African rhythms to explore include:
- Highlife
- Afrobeat
- Juju
- Makossa
- Soukous
- Zouk
Quick FAQs about syncopation
What is syncopation?
Syncopation is when a rhythm is shifted over by a half-beat or an irregular interval. This creates a temporary disruption of the regular flow of the music, which can be used to create interest and tension.
What are the most common types of syncopation?
The most common types of syncopation are:
- Offbeat syncopation
- Suspension syncopation
- Accent syncopation
however, syncopation is really any disruption of the expected “flow” of music, and as a result can take many forms.
Does syncopation mean “offbeat”?
Offbeat is a type of syncopation, but not all syncopation is offbeat. Syncopation can also happen on the beat, such as in a swung rhythm.
Can syncopation be used in any genre of music?
Yes, syncopation can be used in any genre of music. It’s especially common in jazz, Latin music, and African music, but it can be used in any style of music.
How do you identify syncopation?
If you see a lot of dotted rhythms (especially in 4/4 time), chances are you’re dealing with some syncopation. Another way to identify syncopation is to listen to where the accents fall in the music.
If the accents seem to be “off” from where you would expect them, that’s another good sign that syncopation is being used.
What is the origin of syncopation?
The origin of syncopation is difficult to pinpoint, as it’s likely that syncopated rhythms have been used in music for centuries.
That said, syncopation began to gain popularity in Western music during the Renaissance when composers started experimenting with shifting musical phrases over by a half-beat. This created a more complex, interesting, and tension-filled sound.
Syncopation really took off in the Baroque era, when composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel started using it extensively in their music. From there, syncopation became a staple of jazz, Latin music, and African music.
Final thoughts
Syncopation is an essential skill for any musician to master and foundational to a good understanding of music theory. It’s a great way to add interest and tension to your music, and it can be used in any genre of music.
If you’re not already familiar with syncopation, I highly recommend checking out some of the examples in this article. And if you want to go deeper into more melody-writing techniques, check out my course on how to compose music for video games.
Thanks for reading!