Course 2: Intermediate Readers
Unit 2: Syncopation
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Two-Beat Syncopation
Syncopated rhythms are those that go from an off-beat to the next off-beat in a row. When the beat value is based on quarter note values, two-beat syncopated rhythms are easy to spot. They start on a beat with a single eighth note followed by a quarter and closed by another single eighth note (measure 2 has 1st example). Listen and count along with the rhythm keeping your number counts steady. || 1 2 3+4+ | 1 2 3+(4)+ |
Treble Clef,
Cmaj,
4/4
Syncopated rhythms are those that go from an off-beat to the next off-beat in a row. When the beat value is based on quarter note values, two-beat syncopated rhythms are easy to spot. They start on a beat with a single eighth note followed by a quarter and closed by another single eighth note (measure 2 has 1st example). Listen and count along with the rhythm keeping your number counts steady. || 1 2 3+4+ | 1 2 3+(4)+ |
Count 2 Syncopation Two Ways
Music editors have choice over how to present syncopation over the strong 3rd beat. It is common to see it as a tie, like in the 1st measure, and as the contained quarter note like the 2nd measure. Both are valid ways to express syncopation beginning on the second beat.
Treble Clef,
Cmaj,
4/4
Music editors have choice over how to present syncopation over the strong 3rd beat. It is common to see it as a tie, like in the 1st measure, and as the contained quarter note like the 2nd measure. Both are valid ways to express syncopation beginning on the second beat.
3-Beat Syncopation
The syncopation pattern can be extended by a beat by adding a second off-beat quarter-note to the pattern. Measure 2 has a three-beat syncopation starting on count two while measure 4 starts on the first count. Try counting the beats and counting with subdivision to really feel the effect of syncopation.
Treble Clef,
Cmaj,
4/4
The syncopation pattern can be extended by a beat by adding a second off-beat quarter-note to the pattern. Measure 2 has a three-beat syncopation starting on count two while measure 4 starts on the first count. Try counting the beats and counting with subdivision to really feel the effect of syncopation.
Extending Syncopation
We reintroduce Fi and Te with an exercise that features and 8 beat syncopation. It stands out for the use of a tie over the bar line to continue the off-beat pattern. This is a great example to remind you to use some form of body movement to feel the beat pulse and subdivision.
Treble Clef,
Cmaj,
4/4
We reintroduce Fi and Te with an exercise that features and 8 beat syncopation. It stands out for the use of a tie over the bar line to continue the off-beat pattern. This is a great example to remind you to use some form of body movement to feel the beat pulse and subdivision.
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