syncopating
Displacing rhythmic stress
Syncopating is shifting musical rhythm so that normally weak beats become accented, creating an off-beat or unexpected pulse.
Jazz and funk rely heavily on syncopated rhythms: The drummer kept syncopating the groove.
Outside music, syncopating can mean shortening or contracting by omitting middle elements.
Pleasantly strange or unusual
- accentRegional speech pattern
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- pulseArterial blood throb
swing · backbeat · polyrhythm · cross-rhythm · anticipation · meter · tempo · timing
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- compingImprovised chordal accompaniment
vamp · solo · scat · ragtime · stride · funk · fusion · riff
Valve controlling liquid flow
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- salsaSpicy tomato condiment
- flamencoRhythmic Spanish dance style
- hip-hopRhythmic spoken-word music
samba · mambo · chacha · jive · quickstep · foxtrot · breakdance · stepdown
Simultaneous independent melodies
- staccatoShort, separated note style
- rubatoElastic musical timing
- articulationClear vocal expression
- ornamentationDecorative additions to something
Stravinsky · Bernstein · Gershwin · ragtime · fugue · cadence · suspension
offbeat
Pleasantly strange or unusual
pulse · swing · backbeat · polyrhythm · cross-rhythm · anticipation · meter · tempo · timing · pattern
improvisation
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
comping · vamp · solo · scat · ragtime · stride · funk · fusion · riff · lick
tap
Valve controlling liquid flow
hip-hop · samba · mambo · chacha · jive · quickstep · foxtrot · breakdance · stepdown · footwork
counterpoint
Simultaneous independent melodies
- staccatoShort, separated note style
- rubatoElastic musical timing
- articulationClear vocal expression
ornamentation · Stravinsky · Bernstein · Gershwin · ragtime · fugue · cadence · suspension
- musicianshipsinging, playing, performing, practicing, harmonizing
- musical termsadagio, andante, allegro, lento, largo