Placing accents on the off-beats to create rhythmic surprise and groove.
Syncopation is the technique of stressing beats or parts of beats that are normally weak or unexpected, rather than landing accents on the strong, predictable beats. By shifting emphasis onto the off-beats or between the beats, syncopation creates a sense of surprise, tension and momentum that makes music feel lively and propulsive. It is fundamental to the groove of funk, jazz, reggae, Latin music and much of pop and dance, and it is a big part of why those styles make you want to move. Understanding syncopation helps a musician feel and play rhythms that push and pull against the beat, which is central to developing a strong sense of groove.
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