In music, syncopation means: Placing accents on weak beats or between beats instead of on the strong beats, which makes a rhythm feel surprising and lively.
In Turkish: senkop
How it is used
A key idea in jazz, funk, Latin music, pop and many dance styles. Teachers say a rhythm is 'syncopated' or 'full of syncopation'. Students practise counting syncopated rhythms aloud: 'one-and-two-and'.
Example sentences
The syncopation in the horn line makes the chorus feel like it's pushing forward.
Count the syncopation slowly before you try it at full tempo.
Common collocations
syncopated rhythm
heavy syncopation
count the syncopation
syncopated groove
Related terms
rhythmThe pattern of long and short sounds and silences in music, and how they are placed in time against the beat.
beatThe steady pulse that you tap your foot to in a piece of music. Beats are grouped into bars, and their speed is the tempo.
downbeatThe first and usually strongest beat of a bar. It also means the conductor's downward hand movement that starts the music.
grooveThe rhythmic feel of a piece that makes people want to move, created mainly by the drums and bass locking together.
jazzA genre that developed in African American communities in New Orleans in the early 20th century, known for swing rhythm, rich harmony and improvisation.
