Syncopation is a common rhythmic concept used in jazz and popular music styles. With syncopation, rhythmic hits or accents are displaced so they occur on what are normally perceived as "weak" beats or off beats.
​
A common example of syncopation occurs when the chord of a song changes on the upbeat instead of a stronger quarter note downbeat.
​
Syncopation makes music more interesting compared to the predictability of every note occuring on a quarter note beat.