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Music theory book

Syncopation

4.1 Syncopation

Normally music proceeds with a succession of strong and weak beats, the strong beats on the downbeat of the bar and the weak beats on the upbeat. These accents may, however, be displaced, giving a strong beat where there would normally have been a weak beat and this rhythmic effect is called syncopation.
It is customary, in music theory, to categorise syncopation in two ways:
a) Regular or irregular
b) Simple or compound

Syncopation is described as regular when the syncopated note is divided equally between the stressed and unstressed beats. In the example below the syncopated minim on beat two is divided equally between the unstressed beat 2 and the stressed beat 3.
example 1
Braille example regular

Syncopation is described as irregular when the syncopated note is divided unequally between the stressed and unstressed beats, as in the following example.
example 2
Braille example irregular

Syncopation is described as simple when there is a single displacement of the accent.
example 3
Braille example simple

Syncopation is described as compound when there is more than one displacement of the accent.
example 4
Braille example compound

Syncopation in compound time signatures may be described as regular even in the following example.
example 5
Braille example regular in compound time



4.2 Extended syncopation

Syncopation may extend across several bars, as shown in the following example.
example
Braille example extended syncopation



4.3 Missed beat syncopation

Missed beat syncopation is achieved by the alternation of rests on the strong beats of the bar with accented notes on the weak beats.

Example in simple time:
example 7
Braille example in simple time

Example in compound time:
example 8
Braille example in compound time

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