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How to Play SYNCOPATION RHYTHM on the Guitar
- Neil Chan
- Aug 16
- 1 min read
n this video, I dive into the concept of syncopation—not in melodies, but in chords, which is a bit less common. Using my original song The Father from my latest album The Word, I demonstrate how to play chords that don’t land exactly on the main beats but instead fall on the subdivisions between beats in 3/4 time.\
The song mostly places chords on the “and” counts—those in-between moments that give the rhythm a more interesting, off-beat feel. I explain how to count these subdivisions clearly to help you understand exactly where the chords fall.
You’ll see me play the chords slowly at first, then gradually speed up, showing how the syncopation adds subtle complexity without sounding complicated. I also explore how this technique can make your own arrangements more dynamic and engaging by shifting chord hits away from the expected beats.
For practice, you can download the free score with notation and tabs. If you want to deepen your fingerstyle guitar skills and learn how to arrange songs uniquely, check out my course Fingerstyle for the World.
Download my free fingerstyle guitar guides
Enroll in my fingerstyle guitar online course now
Remember to enjoy the process!
~ Neil Chan ~