Help with Syncopation

Question

I have an assignment with a simple rhythm in 4/4 time. I am being asked to rewrite the rhythm as syncopated with one half beat before the start of the measure. I cant add a photo as it is too large to upload even with compression but the notes are as follows:

quarter, quarter, two eighths joined together, quarter

How would I syncopate this? I have tried reading around the concept but cant seem to grasp it. From what I can understand it is shifting the expected accent. In this case to the 2nd and 4th note

Any help would be appreciated

Answer 1

Just so as to not COMPLETELY do your homework for you...

I've started with a slightly different original version. This is what I think they're asking you to do to it.

Answer 2

Syncopation is moving the emphasis of notes played. Normally, the first beat in a bar is more emphasised - slightly louder - than the rest, the third (in 4/4) being the next most emphasised. As in 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. By listening to how certain parts are emphasised, we can determine what time signature a piece has.

By putting that emphasis just before the new bar, and not actually having any emphasis at the beginning of the next, it throws things. Sometimes called a push note, as it pushes that emphasis early.

So in order to do that, there's a quaver (1/8 note) at the end of the previous bar, tied to the next note - usually a crotchet - at the beginning of the following bar. Now, the count is 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 & - (1) - 2 - 3 - 4.

As Laurence says, the 3rd beat can also be 'pushed', although the wording of the question doesn't necessarily expect that.