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Syncopated Chords on Piano

Syncopated chords land between the beats, on the "and", instead of only on 1, 2, 3 and 4. That push is what makes pop, rock and reggae feel as if they lean forward. Count "1 and 2 and" out loud, play the chord where the pattern says, and keep the left hand steady on the beat.

Start with Pop stabs, the one most songs use.

Patterns

Pop stabs

Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm.

Offbeat skank

Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing.

Push chords

Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space.

Freeze-tag chords

Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar.

Heartbeat chords

Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest.

Late-knock chords

One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end.

Run-up chords

Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar.

Swing push

Three chords tumble out early with a swing, then the bar breathes.

Sleep-in chords

Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end.

Deep-breath chords

A breath on beat 1, then quick chords pumping to the end.

Skipping-stone chords

One chord, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water.

Bouncy-ball chords

One chord, then chords bouncing on every “and”, like a ball.

Cradle chords

A chord, a rock to beat two, a soft pickup back: like a cradle.

Hurrying chords

Calm chords in the first half, then twice as fast to the end.

Bossa chords

Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: soft Brazilian chords.

Sprint-and-stop chords

Four quick chords in the first half, then a calm, empty second half.

Tiptoe chords

One firm chord, then three tiptoe chords between the beats.

Eager chords

Jumps in early before beat 3, like the chords can’t wait.

Double-clap chords

Quick double claps on beats 2 and 4, leaving beats 1 and 3 empty.

Rowing-boat chords

Six even chords per bar, rolling along like oars on water.

Push-and-land chords

A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings.

Hand-clap chords

Rests on beat 1, then clap-clap on 2 and one more clap on 4.

Cartwheel chords

Five evenly spaced chords roll across the beats, then land on 4.

Springy chords

A quick double skip at the start, then steady chords to the end.

Gospel-clap chords

Skips beat 1, then soulful chords that bounce off the “ands”.

Peekaboo chords

A chord on 2, then two surprises popping up between the beats.

Wake-and-run chords

One long chord, then three quick ones running into the next bar.

Double-skip chords

Steady chords with two quick skips, one mid-bar and one at the end.

Running-late chords

Misses beat 1, then hurries in with busy chords around the beats.

Knock-knock chords

Chord, a quick knock-knock, a pause, then one last chord.

Slow-dance chords

Four slow chords per bar under a swaying fifties ballad.

Shy chords

Waits out beat 1, then a chord on 2 and a little double on 3.

Sleepy waltz chords

A long chord, then a double on beat 3: a lazy, rocking waltz.

Slow-down chords

Quick chords rush through the first half, then slow down to land on 4.

Double island chords

The island rhythm squeezed in twice per bar: quick and dancy.

Gear-shift chords

Quick even chords that skip beat 3, like an engine changing gear.

Mouse-run chords

Skips beat 1, scurries through four quick chords, then hides.

Late-hop chords

Steady chords with one quick extra hop after beat 3.

Lingering chords

Two chords, then a late one after beat 3 that hangs in the air.

Groovy chords

Chords jump around the “ands” for a funky, dancing feel.

Lub-dub chords

Two quick chords, a pause, two quick chords: just like a heartbeat.

Hide-and-seek chords

Hides on beat 1, pops up on 2, sneaks in before beat 4, then lands on it.

Hammock chords

Long-short, long-short: soft chords sway like a hammock.

Tug-of-war chords

Four even chords stretched across a rocking bar: a gentle push and pull.

Wobbly chords

Two off-balance chords on the “ands”, then a firm landing on 4.

Swaying waltz chords

Two waltz chords, then a late top note after beat 3 that leans forward.

Trotting-sleigh chords

Three quick chords on every beat: a rolling, joyful gallop.

Pony-trot chords

Quick trotting chords, then a jump over beat 3 to its “and”.

Jump-in chords

Jumps in just after beat 1, pumps through, and stops before the end.

Catch-up chords

Two chords, a late one after beat 3, then a dash to catch up.

Somersault chords

Evenly spaced chords roll across the beats, then flip into the next bar.

Dawdling chords

Two chords, then a lazy late one after beat 3 that catches up on 4.

Funky-chicken chords

Chords dodge almost every beat in tricky quick spots: pure funk.

Dance-floor chords

Off-centre chords keep landing between the beats: a dance-floor groove.

Skip-and-stroll chords

A skippy push at the start, then calm chords on 3 and 4.

Bouncy bells

A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”.

Waltz push chords

Chord, a push before beat 3, then the landing: a waltz with a nudge.

Clockwork chords

Four quick, even chords per short bar, ticking like clockwork.

Zigzag chords

Steady at first, then a quick zigzag of chords around beat 3.

Polka-hop chords

Chords only on the “ands” in a quick two-beat bar: the “pah” of a polka.

Chattering waltz

After the first beat, quick chords and notes chatter to the end of the bar.

Twirling waltz chords

Chord, then a quick twirl of chords into beat 3.

Spinning-top chords

Six even chords in a three-beat bar, spinning round and round.

Sleigh bells

A high note and two quick chords in a short bar, jingling along.

Questions

What does syncopated mean on piano?

A chord or note played between the counts, or held across a beat, so the accent comes where you do not expect it.

How do I count syncopated rhythms?

Say "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" out loud and clap only where the chords fall. Slow it down to 60% speed and keep the left hand on the beat.

Which songs use syncopated chords?

Brooklyn Baby by Lana Del Rey, Beauty And A Beat by Justin Bieber and My Everything by Ariana Grande use syncopated chords. The songs on this page all use it, the most played first.