KVR Audio

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:43 pm

Can anyone, in simple terms

, explain what's meant by a double syncopated beat?

Questlove used the term in a Michael Jackson documentary I was watching to describe the 'Shake Your Body' beat, demonstrating how different it was to a straight disco beat of the time. Sounded darn funky to my ears but I'm not sure why...

thanks,
.g

duncanparsons · Post by **duncanparsons** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:34 pm

Just had a listen, I think what they're referring to is the kick that precedes the main kick and snare. In 6/8 it's not uncommon to hear

Code: Select all

1++2++1++2++
   S     S
K K  KK K  K

What they've done it put it in 16ths

Code: Select all

1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-
    S       S       S       S
K  K   KK  K   KK  K   KK  K   K

which, gotta admit, is a little uncommon, but I wouldn't call that 'double syncopated', more just a decorated beat. I was expecting to hear snares that were way off, maybe more latino, etc, rather than essentially just disco

HTH
DSP

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:51 pm

Thanks Duncan,

Not sure if that's what the guy was playing (didn't sound like a disco beat at all) but maybe that was just his take on it. I'll see if the program is on iplayer (Culture Shows MJ Special) and see if I can grab the offending beat.

Cheers.

duncanparsons · Post by **duncanparsons** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:28 pm

found it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... n_Special/
in around 22:14

I'd just pulled it up on YouTube, and found a live version which used a stripped back beat which I described; the nature of the pulses is similar tho.

Rather than 'double syncopated' it's described as 'two syncopated beats' which I'd go along with. There's that hi-hat action early in the beat, then the tom work after which pulls in a different direction. It reminds me of some of the stuff that Miami Sound Machine and the like would be using a few years later..

duncanparsons · Post by **duncanparsons** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:30 pm

Actually in that clip, if you look at 19:55 area, you'll see TONTO performing with Stevie Wonder - now the video is worth watching just for that, never maind the rest!!!

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:30 pm

duncanparsons wrote:Rather than 'double syncopated' it's described as 'two syncopated beats' which I'd go along with.

Oops, I could've sworn he said double syncopated. Thanks for taking the time to look into this, glad you enjoyed the Stevie Wonder clip (now that would be a worthwhile subject for an extended documentary).

.g

Double syncopation?