syncopated
With shifted accents
Syncopated describes music or rhythm that emphasizes beats normally unstressed, creating a sense of surprise or swing.
Jazz, ragtime, and funk rely heavily on syncopated rhythms: The syncopated piano line gave the tune its infectious bounce.
More broadly, syncopated can describe any pattern with unexpected accents or irregular timing.
Overlapping musical beat patterns
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- backbeatAccent on weak beats
- cross-rhythmSimultaneous contrasting beat patterns
- anticipationState of awaiting something
displacement · groove · swing · shuffle · breakbeat · interlocking · counterpoint · staggered
Fast, complex jazz style
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- ragtimeSyncopated piano genre
- strideExtended single footstep
Monk · Ellington · Coltrane · Charlie Parker · Miles Davis · scat · standards · New Orleans
Suspended recreational seat
- lindy hopHarlem-born swing dance style
- tapValve controlling liquid flow
- salsaSpicy tomato condiment
- cha-chaSyncopated Latin partner dance
mambo · samba · rumba · foxtrot · jive · boogie · breakdance · flamenco
Elastic musical timing
- accelerandoGradual tempo increase
- ritardandoGradual tempo decrease
- rallentandoGradual tempo reduction
- laid-backCalm and unhurried
rushing · dragging · ahead · behind · metronomic · pulse · time · beat
Narrow cut or routine
- James BrownHardest working singer
- slap bassPercussive string technique
- chicken scratchIllegible, messy handwriting
- the oneIdeal romantic partner
Funkadelic · Sly Stone · tight · punchy · stank · pocket · wah-wah
Latin music's rhythmic spine
- sonMale child relation
- bossa novaLyrical Brazilian jazz-samba blend
- Afro-CubanBlending African and Cuban
- cascaraMedicinal tree bark
polyrhythm
Overlapping musical beat patterns
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- backbeatAccent on weak beats
- cross-rhythmSimultaneous contrasting beat patterns
anticipation · displacement · groove · swing · shuffle · breakbeat · interlocking · counterpoint · staggered · lilt
bebop
Fast, complex jazz style
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- ragtimeSyncopated piano genre
stride · Monk · Ellington · Coltrane · Charlie Parker · Miles Davis · scat · standards · New Orleans · cool jazz
swing
Suspended recreational seat
cha-cha · mambo · samba · rumba · foxtrot · jive · boogie · breakdance · flamenco · stepping
rubato
Elastic musical timing
- accelerandoGradual tempo increase
- ritardandoGradual tempo decrease
- rallentandoGradual tempo reduction
laid-back · rushing · dragging · ahead · behind · metronomic · pulse · time · beat · pace
groove
Narrow cut or routine
- James BrownHardest working singer
- slap bassPercussive string technique
- chicken scratchIllegible, messy handwriting
Funkadelic · Sly Stone · the one · tight · punchy · stank · pocket · wah-wah
clave
Latin music's rhythmic spine
- sonMale child relation
- bossa novaLyrical Brazilian jazz-samba blend
- Afro-CubanBlending African and Cuban
- dance qualitiesfluidity, graceful, musicality, rhythmic, grace
- music adjectivesmelodic, harmonic, rhythmic, tonal, tuneful
- rhythm typesupbeat, downbeat, driving, pulsing, swinging
- playing techniquespicking, arpeggiated, fingerpicking, spiccato, block chords
syncopatedsimple
Free of complexity
straightforward · uncomplicated · plain · basic · monotonous
syncopatedstraight-laced
Excessively conventional in behavior
mechanical · stiff · plodding · rigid · stilted
syncopation, syncopate, syncopating, syncopations, syncopates