A rhythm excerpt appears in 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4, with quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes and dotted rhythms. You have to tap on the staff the note where the syncopation starts (the one that is attacked on a weak beat or weak part of the beat and tied over to the next strong beat), or press "No syncopation" if the excerpt has none.
| Type | Where it starts | What it absorbs |
|---|---|---|
| Beat syncopation | A weak beat (beat 2 in 4/4) | The next medium-strong beat (beat 3 in 4/4) |
| Half-beat syncopation | The weak part of a beat (the "and") | The whole next beat |
| Measure syncopation | The last beat of the measure (weak) | The first beat of the next measure |
Syncopation quiz
How to use the exercise: choose between the normal mode (an excerpt of one or two measures, with no syncopation or at most one) and the hard mode (excerpts of 2 measures, where there can be several syncopations at once, or none). Tap the note or notes where you think each syncopation starts, or "No syncopation" if the excerpt has none, and press Check. The app corrects right away and explains why it is or is not a syncopation. Each test has 10 computer-generated questions with random notes, so the same excerpt almost never comes up twice.
What you practice: telling a real syncopation from two classic distractors: a long note written with a tie that starts on a strong beat (not a syncopation), and an off-beat note (attacked on a weak part but with no tie, so the strong beat is attacked again). Hint: do not look only for a tie; first find where the note starts. If it starts on a weak part and carries over a strong part, there may be a syncopation.
The full theory, with staff examples of the three types, is in syncopation.
Printable worksheet (PDF)
The same exercise on paper, for class: seventeen rhythmic excerpts on one A4 sheet. The student circles the note where they think the syncopation starts, or ticks the "No syncopation" box. With a separate answer sheet, with the syncopation in red.
Download the worksheet (A4 PDF) Answers
You can print and photocopy it freely for class.
More worksheets
The same exercise on paper, for class: you can generate more worksheets, each with different excerpts, and print them straight from your browser. The student circles the note where the syncopation starts, or ticks the "No syncopation" box. Each sheet comes with its own answer sheet.
Hard mode worksheet (PDF)
The advanced version on paper: ten excerpts of 2 measures, where there can be several syncopations at once, or none. The student circles every note where they think a syncopation starts, or ticks the "No syncopation" box. With a separate answer sheet, with each syncopation in red.
Download the worksheet (A4 PDF) Answers
You can print and photocopy it freely for class.
More hard mode worksheets
The advanced version on paper: excerpts of 2 measures, where there can be several syncopations at once, or none. The student circles every note where a syncopation starts, or ticks "No syncopation". Generate as many sheets as you need, each with different excerpts.