Rhythm is an art form within music. Syncopation is a rhythmic concept that ads flavor and style to your sound. A great example of syncopation can be found in just about any Bob Marley song. The ruck-a-chuck guitar is commonly playing on the “up” beat. Some people refer to the “up” beat as the backbeat.
So what exactly is syncopation?
Each song has a rhythmic pulse, that pulse can be measured by counting. Some times the pulse is implied but many times it is audible.
If your song is in 4/4 time signature than you would count each measure or musical bar as follows.
…1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and…
The “down” beat would be each number.
The “up” beat would be each “and”.
The strongest beat in every bar is the 1 beat. If you don’t play any other beat you (or another band member) have to play the “1” if you expect others to follow your rhythm.
The second strongest beat is the “3” beat. It is not as strong as the “1” but it is stronger than the “2” and the “4”.
The third strongest beat is the “2”.
Finally the fourth strongest beat is the “4”.
Drummers usually signify the “1” and “3” with a bass drum thump and the “2” and “4” beats for snare drums. This would be a simple (and rather drab) rock beat.
Syncopation would come along to make this rather boring drumbeat a little more exciting and have a rhythmic pocket or a groove.
An example of this would be to put the bass drum on the ”1” but place the snare drum on the “and of 2”, also the “and of 4” which would be located here:
…1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and…
This drumbeat would have a little more style and more of a pocket to fall into as a player. Don’t get me wrong, by no means is this a great drumbeat, but it is a true example of syncopation.
By definition, playing the snare on the “and of 2” and the “and of 4” is syncopation.
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