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15 votes
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Bartok - Syncopation (1): Meaning of notes in between Grand Staff

The star in the middle of the staff actually points us to a footnote given at the end of this first book. In my edition (Boosey & Hawkes), the footnote states: The rhythmic feeling of the ...
Richard's user avatar
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15 votes
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How should I approach getting used to a wonky syncopation?

The general problem: This is a specific case of the more general problem: you're having trouble playing a rhythm which you haven't encountered before. The solution is not surprising: Learn the rhythm ...
Edward's user avatar
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13 votes

Best way to notate 3+3+2 syncopated rhythm

Based on my experience reading and playing many Latin styles over the years, write it in 4/4. There really should be no special accommodation for 3-3-2 rhythms in this piece and in general, Latin ...
John Belzaguy's user avatar
12 votes
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What is it called when a song starts sounding like the beat is in one place, but is actually somewhere else?

There is an idea called "turning the beat around", which involves establishing a sense of meter but then "revealing (or changing) the real meter" later on. This is not uncommon in ...
Aaron's user avatar
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10 votes
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What is the difference between syncopation and poly-rhythm?

It's a bit simpler than that. Syncopation is accenting the off beat, especially accenting in between beats. For example, "Superbad" or "Mother Popcorn" by James Brown. A single rhythm can be ...
Todd Wilcox's user avatar
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9 votes
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Best way to notate 3+3+2 syncopated rhythm

I would stray away from your first notation, as you've sensed. Trained musicians won't find it too confusing, but it's uncommon enough that it may occasionally trip someone up. (I admit that your last ...
Richard's user avatar
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8 votes
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Rhythm notation syncopation over the third beat

Your notation is correct. When notating syncopation, the goal is to visually preserve the strong (part of the) beat. In 4/4 time, that means making clear where beats 1 and 3 lie, which your notation ...
Aaron's user avatar
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8 votes
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How do I get started again when I've lost heart?

You've experienced significant trauma, and it doesn't take a licensed psychologist to say you're experiencing (quite understandable) depression. By all means, you can aspire to return to making music, ...
Andy Bonner's user avatar
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7 votes
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In a rhythm, what word best describes the duration of an on/off beat cycle?

If I understand you right, mathematicians and scientists call that the period. If some thing (such as a drum line) consists of a pattern which repeats in a cycle, then the length of that pattern is ...
Sophie Swett's user avatar
7 votes

Rhythm notation syncopation over the third beat

It is standard practice to write 4/4 measures as if there was an invisible barline in the middle, forcing syncopation to be broken down to two 2/4 half-measures. (Excluding whole notes.) So your ...
piiperi Reinstate Monica's user avatar
7 votes

How do I get started again when I've lost heart?

When you have a problem, you should deal with the problem. Your problem is not musical. It's completely off topic to advise you about your actual problem. No one here knows anything about your ...
Michael Curtis's user avatar
6 votes
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What's the best way to notate this syncopation?

There's nothing wrong with what's in the picture. All major subdivisions are respected so one can play it at sight. The tied Cs make it clear that there is a note held from beat 2 to beat 3.
ttw's user avatar
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6 votes
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Is splitting the quarters into triplets syncopation?

Meter is the regular, hierarchical pattern of beats. Syncopation occurs when something in the music creates a competing pattern of beats, typically when these beats are displaced from the overall ...
Richard's user avatar
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6 votes

Learning to sing while playing a syncopated strum

some things that may help: slow it down (I know you said you tried this, but slow it down until you can play it. it may need to get ridiculously slow but you will not be able to play it until you can ...
b3ko's user avatar
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6 votes

Rhythm notation syncopation over the third beat

Your version is correct. In the example below A is fine (to the extent that B would be considered incorrect). C is acceptable, and even preferred to D in some circumstances. The mainstream musical ...
Laurence's user avatar
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6 votes
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Help with note grouping in 6/4 time

In both cases showing the 4th beat with an imaginary bar line is the way to go. You did it at times but not consistently. The beamed 8ths look strange with the ties. If you want to use ties like in ...
John Belzaguy's user avatar
5 votes

Is there a difference between playing off the beat and syncopation?

Off-beat playing is a case of syncopation, but syncopation includes more than off-beat playing. Both terms refer to playing accented notes in places other than the strong down beats, e.g. other than ...
MMazzon's user avatar
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5 votes

How should I approach getting used to a wonky syncopation?

I guess I heard syncopation starting at approximately the one-minute mark. It sounded to me like the sort of thing one could get comfortable with after playing it more slowly, to get the contours and ...
aparente001's user avatar
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5 votes

Is a syncopated rhythm in 4/4 time really 4/4 time?

For me, it's easier to read in just one time signature, i.e. 4/4, using accents for the accented notes (obviously!) That way, I don't have to keep changing my counting, keeping the basic 4 pulse going,...
Tim's user avatar
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5 votes

What's it called when the Melody and Harmony are half a measure out-of-sync?

I think what's going on here is a pet peeve of mine as a listener. Once the kick comes in, it's very clear where the beats are. In the preceding measures, the melodic material is just the same, but it'...
Andy Bonner's user avatar
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5 votes
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What do you call it when a song constantly adds prominent rests? (like the example given)

Short answer, no, there's no handy musical term for "characterized by lots of interruptions by short rests." You could use the word staccato for this example, but that won't always be true. ...
Andy Bonner's user avatar
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4 votes

Piano and Theory Terms- Syncopation?

This seems pretty good: The FreeDictionary by Farlex, Encyclopedia: Syncopation Syncopation (sĭng'kəpā`shən, sĭn'–) [New Gr.,=cut off ], in music, the accentuation of a beat that normally would ...
Stinkfoot's user avatar
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4 votes
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How to practice simple syncopation?

Use a metronome at a very slow tempo and try to sing the rhythms accurately using some kind of counting scheme, like "One-e-and-uh, two-e-and-uh", then gradually increase the tempo. If you can't get ...
ahazybellcord's user avatar
4 votes

How to practice simple syncopation?

It's fairly straightforward 'push' notes. They're played earlier than he thinks they should be! Try counting 1&2&3&4& for a whole bar, and get him to clap on each &. Then sing the ...
Tim's user avatar
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4 votes

Cleaning up syncopated notes

If you want an un-measured 'fast' gracenote, use an acciaccatura (the one with a slash) rather than an appoggiatura. Apart from that, your notation appears clear. I don't understand your statement '...
Laurence's user avatar
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4 votes
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Different way of “grouping” eighth notes

Yes, this is very common in popular music with a Latin influence. It's like the first half of the 'clave' rhythm that underlies much of this genre.
Laurence's user avatar
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4 votes
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Syncopation of different instruments

First of all, a quote: Duke Ellington said "If it sounds good, it’s good music, and if it doesn’t, then it is the other kind." So if it "sounds better to you," pay attention to ...
Andy Bonner's user avatar
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4 votes

How do I get started again when I've lost heart?

Leave the composing for another day. You have musical knowledge from prior writing, you have physical music knowledge from playing piano. You are over half way to playing another instrument. Choose ...
Tim's user avatar
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4 votes

Help with note grouping in 6/4 time

Neither of your solutions is optimal although the second one is better. In 6/4 the middle of the bar (i.e. between the third and fourth quarter) should be visible. So you should take your second ...
PiedPiper's user avatar
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4 votes

Syncopation in Greensleeves?

There's no syncopation at all in the piece.
PiedPiper's user avatar
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