Syncopation

[RandomEyez]

Was reading the "how to make your tracks danceable" thread and Egoless' advice was to "syncopate stuff".

I've came across this term quite a bit recently and realised I don't have a true understanding of what its all about. And I want to know more, cos I have a feeling this may be the key to making more interesting and rhythmic beats.

So done a quick search on this forum and came across these quotes :

"Syncopation is when you've got rhythms that kind of go against the pulse. Emphasis on the "weak" beats instead of the strong and stuff like that."

"Imagine if you were clapping out a simple rhythm to someone and they kept on clapping their hands when you weren't and "filling in the gaps" between your claps. It feel a bit "off". That is syncopation."

I was always of the understanding that syncopation meant cutting the tails of sounds to give them a more juttery kind of feel but i'm realising thats not what it is. I've sometimes had interesting results when I pencil in a midi pattern, then slide it all over half a beat and I guess this is kinda whats meant by syncopation

So can anyone explain it in more detail?

How do you go about implementing it?

Do you only use it on hats or would you use it on pretty much anything?

Anyone got any tracks that show a good example of syncopation in use?

Lots of questions but would really like to hear what you all have to say on the subject...

Cheers

[project midnight]

You can use it on anything as long as it sounds good.

Most common would be placing hats/shakers etc on the 1/2 or 1/3 beat.

[3za]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncopation

[RandomEyez]

That wikipedia page is a good read actually (should have read it first before posting lol)

Seems its something which we all use naturally when making music, but would def be wise to try to be more aware of it and use it more often and in more inventive ways

[paravrais]

In it's most basic form in dubstep.
Kick ride Snare ride
1 2 3 4

[RandomEyez]

Yeah i'm realising that pretty much every beat uses syncopation, even just a straight 4/4 kick with an offbeat hi hat. In fact its fuckin everywhere! Not such a mystery after all.

[Kochari]

Its what makes it FUNKY



Awww yeaahhhhh

[jaydot]

I've always wondered what it meant too, now I know.

[narcissus]

i sure as hell can't explain it, it just sounds good... my parents pumped jazz and RnB into my eardrums from a verry early age.. syncopation to me is essential in dance music, 'specially dubstep.. rhythm is really not something that can be explained in words

[egoless]

In it's most basic form in dubstep.
Kick ride Snare ride
1 2 3 4

it is the most basic form, but then in the most cases, you end up with a boring, rhytmically totaly uncreative track.... damn, even "beach" house got more interesting rhytm than that...

also it's not only about the beat... It's also the rhytmic relationships between sounds such as kick vs bass syncopation wich is very important etc.

Wicked creative syncopation between sounds = wicked groove...

[Basic A]

Triplets...

[narcissus]

go listen to a bunch of garage..

[green plan]

Its what makes it FUNKY



Awww yeaahhhhh

Big up the Chameleon!

[boko91]

For me it also means getting things working in diffeent time sigs. Like if your beats 4/4 you could have a 3/4 bassline and your melody rolling in 5/4. Throw in some 7/4 pads and as long as it all works its all good. Makes your track interesting as well!!!

Then start on your syncopated modulation FTW

[fondle mcliknpuss]

just makes me think of reggae guitars jamming the upbeat!

[Recessive Trait]

dynamics are an important partner to syncopation. when my beats really get grooving i might be filling up all 16 16th notes in the bar with some kind of drum hit, but not all at full force. using ghost notes on the snare, such that you might feel them more than actually hear them, as well as dynamics in your hat hits, helps to create a more real feeling in your drums.

also using 4 or 5 hat samples and 4 or 5 snare samples, which all sound somewhat similar yet markedly different can help create the illusion of real hats or drums.

feel free to listen to any of my tracks if you want to hear what i mean. try the beginning of this one, for example:
Soundcloud

[Lapse]

Check out this video its all about syncopation tension and release. It might be of some help.
http://thedspproject.com/alvaro-lopez-o ... nd-release

[RandomEyez]

also using 4 or 5 hat samples and 4 or 5 snare samples, which all sound somewhat similar yet markedly different can help create the illusion of real hats or drums.

feel free to listen to any of my tracks if you want to hear what i mean. try the beginning of this one, for example:
Soundcloud

I see what your saying. It's good advice, will try it out.

That track has a real nice groove btw, kinda reminds of some the stuff Chris Carter & Jhz used to make.

[RandomEyez]

Check out this video its all about syncopation tension and release. It might be of some help.
http://thedspproject.com/alvaro-lopez-o ... nd-release

Thanks, that was helpful