Syncopation. Part 1. What the heck is syncopation? How to read ties and difficult rhythms.

[@musicwithnopain]

Get our e-book The Golden Book of Rhythms here payhip.com/b/D8ut (not including these exercises)

[@federerfanatic]

Without the metronome sound is it possible for an experience musician to tell what kind of syncopation is going on? It would seem that that may not be easy to determine unless the volume level or dynamics may hint to what's going on?

[@angeltensey]

from uneducated point of view, syncopation looks like broken rhytm that fits into normal time signature

[@TWolf317]

I'm not a musician and I've read many definitions of syncopation that made little sense to me. Finally, someone explained it in a way I can understand! Thank you.

[@1206549]

I found it because I wanted to know what is called. Before this, I just called it that satisfying feeling like scratching an itch in your brain when music breaks the rhythm a little

[@albrown6306]

Syncopation is what I call, GETTING FUNKY!!!

[@kuldeep01in]

This is the best explanation of syncopation I've chanced upon in KZbin. Thanks!

[@keli5308]

The best explanation of syncopation

[@dave1066]

I have asked many people to describe syncopation, all giving slightly different and 'fuzzy' answers. Spent ages searching the web and KZbin and this video is BY FAR the best explanation. Each step made sense perfectly and built upon the previous steps. Thank you, simply brilliant.

[@yuriybogun]

The explanation I was looking for all my life. Thank you

[@AndrewdLavigne]

I couldn’t help but smile and laugh when I noticed that the “ties” look like little smiley faces 😂. Very informative though sir so thank you.

[@hak-en-slash4636]

I actually came to this video because I want to know what syncopation meant in terms of electronic music. This gave me a basis to understand it. It is pretty interesting to hear these simpler examples, even though I have no real musical background. Thanks for the video!

[@PhyroMcBruceEsq]

its, 2:30 am, I can't play a single instrument, and yet here I am, holy crap i'm going to bed

[@PhyroMcBruceEsq]

@Lou Minatti tbf, he was exceptionally well trained want he? And didn't he start out...not deaf? But sure, maybe I'll buy a... Dunno. Instrument. Something.

[@JS45678]

C’mon my friend, choose an instrument, and start learning! You’ll never experience more frustrations, more challenges, and more joy than being able to express your deepest emotions through a musical instrument.

[@tiffany.Elizabeth.]

This comment made me burst out laughing ahahaha. Welcome to intermediate music theory!

[@MarioFachini]

4:30 same

[@thatlovejones]

Thank you, such a simple and enlightening explanation. Could never figure out what syncopation meant exactly, in 5 minutes you cleared up all confusion.

[@amjPeace]

Syncopation and ties are my biggest downfall. Thank you so much for this excellent lesson, which I plan to watch over and over again until I get it through my thick skull LOL Thank you!

[@CosasdeDios1089]

What a beautifully put together lesson. Thank you.

[@anfie2495]

I learnt about this term by watching reaction videos. I notice they'd identify my favorite parts of songs as 'syncopation', so I had to research what it means, because it's clearly a common factor of what I love in music. I don't understand why I love it so much, but it sounds absolutely amazing. It's probably my favorite element in music.

[@MsJaneEHawkins]

I know syncopation when I hear it but I stumble hard over and over when I try to play it on my piano. I need to understand it more deeply and this video feels like a revelation. Can't try it out right now because my housemates are asleep. 😏 Thanks so much! Might not be enough to get that piece right yet but gives me a path on training myself.

[@downloadexists7292]

Thank you for providing us with your invaluable music education.

[@nikkimichelle3809]

thank you?taking music appreciation this semester and you dont know how much you are hleping me! Eres chingon

[@voxjanet]

This is a great explanation! Definitely better than "you know it when you see it"!

[@YeOldeBono]

Wonderful instruction, sir. I deeply appreciate you.

[@vincentchinemeluatueyi]

Deeply informative. Great lecture within the shortest time. Am glad.

[@yeetusselfdefeetus4566]

I literally searched what the heck is syncopation. Lol. Edit: Senpai noticed :0

[@musicwithnopain]

:)

[@willieboy8798]

it is a form of freestyle inside the base rythum. pro use it to accent playing.

[@TheWaynelds]

What does “Senpal noticed” mean?

[@carlospinto5402]

@@TheWaynelds The author ("Sempai") of the video responded ("noticed") to his comment. "Sempai" doesn't exactly mean "author", I just contextualized it. "Sempai" in Japanese is a junior student's way of addressing a senior student.

[@Glinkaism1]

I LOVE some of the examples he played.

[@jaderossiter3349]

Thank you, Marcello. I am a beginner and found this very helpful indeed. Grazie. Va bene!

[@UndercoverPieHorse]

Very good lesson!

[@zulyatiamin9685]

hi is this syncopation? i have some music project..i was wondering if this have syncopation in it...here's the link... musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/song/6269545548349440

[@leokimvideo]

The Kiss song 100000 Years has syncopation in the guitar solo work. Ace Frehley is the only Kiss guitarist who seems to understand how to play it correctly.

[@giorgi6762]

Excellent, finally a great way to explain!!!!

[@mcdevious2229]

Very well done. Thank you, Marcello.

[@Carreponge12]

Got yourself a subscriber with this one video, thanks

[@fabiovezzaro7505]

This is brilliant!

[@white.cloudd]

This is exactly what i need! Can you make more videos like this PLEASE? Seeing syncopation and pulse in the same time is really helpful :)

[@Kundacci]

Important & Very useful standards 👍🏻 thanks !

[@ryancox5097]

Wow, excellent explanations. Great, great video.

[@CodeJeffo]

Thank you. Excellent explanation and examples.

[@utube11235]

Beautifully explained and depicted.

[@oneforall5615]

Thank you very much. Great explanation. Turns out I know how to do syncopations but I didn't even know what is was lol.

[@Psyclops_Dave]

Great video but that guy at 4:51 seems a bit smug about the whole thing.

[@willcliftonmusic3914]

lol

[@julialori4591]

Haha that's so cute, I saw that too

[@willieboy8798]

indians and pakastanis as well as other SE Asians speak English well but they lack idioms and emotional usage techniques depending on how they learned it. In Britton when I lived there it is even worse in the Queens English. I learned that when I spoke with an Aussy usage it really lowered their tolerance and made them sensitive. LOL

[@nikic143]

Awesome video. Thank you!

[@bulltremor]

Thank you for this, I understand it very well now.

[@delstanley1349]

Wow! I've just started trying to learn music theory. I've been practicing on my timing and rhythm-counting, etc. In the little time I've been learning it seems there is an explained fix for everything that could go wrong! When my timing is off, I can just say "no it isn't, I'm good, I was just syncopating," when I miss the beat. If I hit a note that is not in scale, I can just say "I was just using an accidental." Yes, I know it all depends on INTENT, but this stuff at least allows you a way to save face to cover your screw ups. I can always use the "I was doing it on purpose," ruse. Like I said I'm too green and too new at all this, so in the future and hearing more examples perhaps I can appreciate these things more. For now though, hell I'm a syncopating genius! I would assume most people just coming into the musical world and learning how to play and understand are syncopating all over the place! Hell, I can teach a course on all this. I will tell everybody that I'm just too funky and too kool to miss notes on the beats, I syncopate, baby. I'm a natural!

[@Milehighshred]

Wonderful video! So well done, easy to follow, and helpful :)

[@vicentejouclas2518]

Valeu!

[@willcliftonmusic3914]

1:42 sounds like Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland.

[@jontnoneya3404]

Awesome! Very understandable...thanks!

[@GamingPokaru]

Just a beatboxer tryna learn music with 0 experience, and this made sense to me, thank u my good sir.

[@rockhard2654]

beautiful lesson well well done

[@jayshobby1797]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@RedArcheryGirl92]

Thank you! This helped me so much!

[@jeffreymorris2673]

I wish that I was musically inclined.

[@BoxerDogs]

Very good explanation.

[@aliciasoede3681]

Is there a full version of the sheet music that is played at the beginning of the video? :)

[@hannahjohnson7777]

Thanks! This really helped me. 😀

[@arijitmusicdey159]

Excellent lesson.

[@heartmindmusic1]

Thank you for this video Just one thing though, I think I really prefer to read the tied notes even for 16th notes as it shows me the subdivisions clearly. But as you mentioned it might be a preference.

[@decoyoctopusra]

What is that piano piece that plays at the beginning and ending of the video? I would really like to learn to play it. :)

[@samuelitooooo]

Syncopation appears to be a deceptively simple concept. It's just notes that don't fall on the beat? Am I missing anything? (Background: I've composed music before learning music theory. So I've made patterns before learning the names for them. If this is true then I've already applied syncopation in many of my songs…)

[@Destamoon]

Same here, I just called it an off-beat note/melody

[@rayq8289]

I believe syncopation is slightly more complex than that, but you're almost there. Syncopation is not only based on the note being off the beat, but is a product of going against how the listener expects the rhythm to behave. So basically syncopation occurs when the note is off the beat and is unexpected in the flow of the rhythm

[@Destamoon]

@@rayq8289 thank you for elaborating. So the intent of adding syncopation is to disrupt the flow of the rhythm? Almost to surprise the listener?

[@rayq8289]

@@Destamoon Essentially yes, although its not always meant to surprise the listener. Sometimes it can be used to produce a wonky unbalanced rhythm which conveys a particular mood. A good example of its use is in ragtime music. Ragtime uses a ton of syncopation, and creates a wonky, unique type of sound that feels playful and unpredictable.

[@Destamoon]

@@rayq8289 thank you sir

[@oleole541]

Cheers helping me lot to count rhythem

[@judezhu5364]

i love ur spanish accent lol great leason

[@totallynuts7595]

Honestly, if I write syncopated notes, I'd try to make sure there is some sort of visual cue as to were the beat is.

[@gigiloc131]

Thanks for refresher

[@sumanrai1508]

What is difference between the syncopation and polyrhythm?

[@mavmav0YT]

Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms, that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter.[2] The rhythmic conflict may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rhythm), or a momentary disruption. Polyrhythms can be distinguished from irrational rhythms, which can occur within the context of a single part; polyrhythms require at least two rhythms to be played concurrently, one of which is typically an irrational rhythm.[3] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhythm

[@costascostas1760]

4:28 if you came to see happy faces :)

[@raskidon]

Lol, I saw that

[@ulianasadova7438]

very helpful, thanks a lot

[@roshansenewiratne5504]

Great video

[@jedi098765]

Well done

[@bulatgabid]

3:01 - 3:40 the best part

[@jbarkerhill92]

Could you say that syncopation falls on off beats / up beats? E.g. Breaking up quarter note into eighth notes, and beat falling on 2nd or 3rd 8th note Seems like syncopation gives a swing or gallop sometimes Think jazz players use it a lot Also electronic dance music uses it

[@m4rt100]

hi. may i know the software you use to create these notation. thank you

[@MusicManFernando]

Excellent Thank You

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci for this.

[@pk6221]

great and easy

[@eyaelalemayehu1218]

Good job

[@AzureSymbiote]

Thanks very much!

[@angelasethna948]

The subtitles are blocking the main music hiding the notation.

[@mmaaiissee1]

Good lesson.

[@BigJerr]

this is really good

[@meihuatseng4092]

outstanding!

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

This seems clear, but in actual performance musicians only play the notes. How can a listener tell where the beats are in that case?

[@vwlz8637]

feel it 🤟im serious this is what u actually need to do.

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

@@vwlz8637, that's almost as helpful as saying nothing at all. If I were feeling it, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[@vwlz8637]

@@robertwalker-smith2739 Well at least now you know that's what you need to learn to do. Unless you want to listen for specific elements of the music that goes on beat, like the walking bass in a jazz song, or the kick drum in an EDM song. But it's best to learn to feel it. Listen to a lot of music, tap your feet, bang your head, you'll get there.

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

Learn to feel it. People with an intuitive understanding of music seem to have difficulty explaining it to people who lack an intuitive understanding of music. I didn't understand the concept of 'key' until my late 30s, after about six months of self-directed study. I still don't hear key changes, but at least I understand what they are.

[@JennLefrost]

@@robertwalker-smith2739 can you explain it to me what key is.. I also don't understand

[@kisho2679]

syncopation is extensively used in jaz and blues music?

[@anthony_gaytano]

But what was the background music u used ?

[@faeizzaqwan7464]

So syncopation is a note that we play before we expect?

[@musicwithnopain]

or after, check 2:52

[@STUKS71]

1:44 I thought he was going to play Simple Gifts

[@shreyashshrestha6085]

THANK YOUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!

[@guesshoo6843]

the syncopation at the beginning of the music its like in ( Eminem song The way I am )

[@blackx9360]

thank you

[@MiDnYTe25]

Great!

[@user-mp9xz8yg4j]

I have a question. If you are reading sheet music, is there any way for the composer to indicate that the notes are syncopated as opposed to played on the beat?

[@musicwithnopain]

Well, you can see something is syncopated by looking at the use of ties and/or the location of the rests.

[@user-mp9xz8yg4j]

Ok. Thank you!

[@Compasscard]

Nicely explained, but syncopation is hard for us 2nd year students :)

[@soniakataria5419]

0:42 ta ta ta ta

[@AndrewdLavigne]

Takadimi takadimi takadimi

[@soniakataria5419]

@@AndrewdLavigne I had forgotten about this comment 😅

[@juliansoto2651]

So syncopation belongs more to melody, not to rhythm, style or harmony. Am I right?

[@MLZ59]

Syncopation is when you playing notes off the normal count. The drummers play a lot of them to make the rhythm sound more dynamic! So you are write! @Carlos Oliveira

[@bedtimeread]

so you're basically saying that syncopation is any note that is not in beat?

[@gato_gc821]

Well explained,but I still didn't get it. I still subscribed lol

[@WARDISWARD]

I just means shifting notes forwards ( delaying ) ..by inserting rests or ties . In other words , get them of the grid of the main time signature .

[@dicellol]

any note thats not on the metronome click is syncopated

[@anubhav.music28]

Nice

[@MegaKnuckleheads]

what is this songs name

[@Nairrrrrrr]

Babyshark

[@JAzdre57]

Wow I learned some heavy @hit just now

[@MrVictoria69]

Reading about this syncopation sounds super complicated

[@auralangst6177]

Two ads and six mins to define syncopation? I'm probably being a music snob...

[@sjorshoeijmans5442]

Musical theory is a fucking bitch yo, still don't understand a thing about this but your video does help

[@AUGUSTALLEN28]

Why is this so complicated.does it really have to be this frustrating?

[@willieboy8798]

i use synocopation all the time all of my playing is off beat!!!humor

[@Kevin-xs1ft]

U r good

[@johncrosley9415]

The easiest to recognise syncopation is Ozzy Osbourne singing Paranoid.