Claptoscore

Rhythm reading lessons › Lesson 17 of 19

Syncopation across the barline

Anticipations: notes that arrive early and tie into the next bar.

An anticipation starts a note just before the downbeat and ties it over the barline, so beat 1 of the next bar is silent. It is everywhere in pop, jazz and Latin music.

Clap the anticipation and then hold still on the downbeat. The next clap after a tied downbeat is where most people rush.

FigureCountKodály syllables
Anticipated downbeat… 4 & | (1) 2ti-(ta) over the bar
Eighth-quarter-eighth into the next bar3 & (4) & | (1)syn-co-pa

Space starts the highlighted exercise and taps the rhythm · Enter plays it · or tap the card on a phone.