LESSON ELEVEN

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.

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56

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

This well known spiritual makes frequent use of the syncopated rhythm from the last exercise. If you have trouble with any of the timing in this song, practice the rhythm figures on one note at first as in example 56. Once you have memorised 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.

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The Note Bb in the Middle

The following example uses the note B b in the middle register. It is written above the first ledger line above the staff. As with the notes E, F and G, the fingering is the same as B b in the low register.

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Another common way of creating syncopated rhythms is the use of ties. Here is a rhythm similar to the one used to introduce eighth notes. The difference is that it uses ties instead of rests on the beat.

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Jamaica Farewell

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 memorised it in this key, try transposing it to G Major.