Syncopation

A

Ahpook

New member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmhB6jHxT4Y

I think I understand the basic idea, and apparently do it unwittingly while writing. My guitar instructor mentions I do it all the time. We can't seem to understand each other on this :)

And the loss of EVH brought up this discussion again between us. This song is apparently heavily syncopated. What would the riff be without syncopation? Damn, this is confusing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M_lxaHCk-M
 
Syncopation is literally a feature in every Western music form. Even musicians that swear they can't count to 4 can syncopate rhythms, even if they don't know what they are doing. Most rock music is based on heavily syncopated rhythms, and different musical styles will reveal an endless pattern of beat subdivision.
 
Very good example of syncopation there with the Van Halen tune. Syncopation is actually one thing that I can't theory out on to figure out lol. I just bop my head to the beat and think if the phrases start on up beats or weak beats or if a lot of the notes are accented on up beat or weak beats. This is one of the most syncopated songs I've ever heard. Almost none of the instruments land on the 1 in the verses lol! The drums, bass, and guitar all miss the downbeat on the 1. The only instrument which identifies the 1 is the vocals.

 
Syncopation is just rhythmic beats not on the pulse. It can be simple, like the examples noted above (heavy syncopation and complex syncopation are different beasts), or incredibly complex, like in Steve Reich's compositions.

https://youtu.be/uDhwFTw4VnI
 
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