Syncopation
Here is another rhythm figure using dotted quarter notes. This time the eighth note is played first and the dotted quarter note is played off the beat. This creates an effect known as syncopation, which means displacing the normal flow of accents, usually from on the beat to off the beat. Practice this example slowly at first and count carefully as you play.
This well known spiritual makes frequent use of the syncopated rhythm shown in the previous exercise. If you have trouble with timing in this song, practice the rhythm figures on one note, as previously shown. Once you have memorized the melody, try transposing it to the key of G.
The Eighth Rest
This is an eighth rest.
It indicates half a beat of silence.
The use of eighth rests on the beat is a very common way of achieving syncopated rhythms as shown in the following examples.
This one is a riff style 12 Bar Blues. Play it slowly at first and take care with the timing.
Another common way of creating syncopated rhythms is the use of ties. Here is a rhythm similar to the one used in example 49. The difference is that it uses ties instead of rests on the beat.
This well known Caribbean song makes very effective use of syncopated rhythms using ties. It is written here in the key of F Major. Once you have memorized it in this key, try transposing it to G Major.
