Rhythm exercise 2-4

Single syncopation with ending

Featured figures

Name	Symbols	Duration
Two eighth notes tied to two eighth notes		½ beat, one beat, ½ beat
One eighth note, one quarter note, one eighth note		½ beat, one beat, ½ beat
two eighth notes, one eighth note rest, one eighth note		½ beat, ½ beat, ½ beat, ½ beat

Graphic
representation

This figure includes a syncopation.
Syncopations are related to rhythmical weights.
To understand them, let's first make the distinction between upbeats and syncopations.
Perform the following rhythm which contains only notes on the upbeats.

Upbeats

Now, lengthen each note so that the sound is sustained up to the next one.

Syncopations

As you can see, the second part of each note is marked by the fall of the following beat, especially since your foot hits at the same moment.
You experience a syncopation when, having started a sound on a weak rhythmic position, you feel the following strong position accentuating it.

Introduction
to
syncopations

Two ways
to
write
syncopations

The syncopated note can be represented in two manners:
•As two separate portions, tied together.
•As a single grouped value.

Separated syncopated note

Grouped syncopated note

Since rhythm is supposed to be written beat by beat, the grouped notation violates this rule.
In addition, syncopated notes necessarily have to be separated in order to cross the barline.

Syncopation is a very recent event in human evolution.
Even if some can be found in medieval music and before, it is in the twentieth century that syncopation has known its phenomenal development.

Syncopation
in
history

How to
perform
this
rhythm

A: Start by doing this rhythm, using the syllable "Ta".

B: Remove the "T" from the third "Ta".

C: Hold the second "Ta".

This exercise is written three different ways.
The first two give identical results. Some notes are shorter in the third.
Note: there are no syncopations in the third version.

You may have to click the Play button twice
		Tempo 70 bpm		Tempo 100 bpm		Tempo 130 bpm

Count 1, 2, 3, 4, before you start

Try this exercise in swing feel