How (Not) To Understand Syncopation And Time Signatures In Music

Posted by Chris Leone on April 28, 2009 in: Lessons, how not to, vids | Tags: how not to, lesson, Lessons, music, piano, theory, time signiture, time signitures

Rating: 5.0/5 (8 votes cast)

Expert Village continues to impress us with yet another video lesson series on how (not) to understand syncopation and time signatures – this time, with a new “expert” to show us how (not to). I’m beginning to wonder if these videos are made in jest just so people like us will spread them around in all their terrible glory…not that I’m complaining. Their videos make for some of the best drumFunny content.

Let’s have fun with this. Identify in the comments everything that’s wrong in this video.

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22 Comments »

welllllll…

his “interesting 5/4 feel” is actually a quite uninteresting 4/4 feel.

NEXT

Comment by underwatrdrummer — April 29, 2009
are these supposed to be “experts” or dumb asses who think they know what they are talking about…

Comment by TayTay — April 30, 2009
yikes….i never knew that 5/4 and 4/4 were exactley the same meter…oh wait, they aren’t. and that is not a syncopated beat….fool

Comment by Dr. Beat — April 30, 2009
His lamp is crooked. Does that count?

Comment by adamheart — April 30, 2009
When he plays he looks like a hipster tyrannosaurus rex. Does that count?

Comment by Justin — April 30, 2009
how about the ads that stream along the bottom.

“suck at piano?”

“quality music lessons?”

Oh the irony….

Comment by El Snoid — April 30, 2009
@Justin. Yes. Absolutely

Comment by Chris Leone — April 30, 2009
@teh snoid – I think the ads are targeted at him. which, if you ask me, is a pretty expensive way of saying “you suck”

Comment by Chris Leone — April 30, 2009
Did he just call “syncopation” when multiple notes hit at the same time?

Comment by J-Cop — April 30, 2009
yes….yes he did. Obviously he’s done his homework.

Comment by El Snoid — April 30, 2009
In 6/8 time, he refers to the eighth notes as triplets.

rong.

Comment by Chris Leone — April 30, 2009
WELL.. according to American Heritage Dictionary.. Syncopation– A shift of accent in a passage or composition that occurs when a normally weak beat is stressed.
So if you count it in 5/4, the accents are 1–5–4–3–2.. and when all the notes hit, they are Accented.. So, maybe part of his theory isn’t right.. but technically, he is right..

Im not sure of how the 6/8 would be a syncopation tho??

Comment by Jrad — April 30, 2009
4/4…..5/4…..who gives a shit.

Comment by rack ball — May 1, 2009
In no way can you even count that out in 5/4 and still have it work in 5/4, he ends before the ‘5/4′ cycle is even done. hahaha

Comment by Tyler — May 1, 2009
It can work in 5/4.. the accents do not have to fall on 2—4–2–4–and just because he doesnt end after the 5/4 cycle ends doesnt mean that it is not in 5/4..

Comment by Jrad — May 2, 2009
I can tell you the main problem- Expert Village is actually VillageIdiot.com

Comment by ...hahaha — May 2, 2009
In 6/8 you can hear his pinky nail hitting the keys producing a faint clicking noise…

DAH!

Comment by Hubert — May 2, 2009
And people wonder why drummers think that most piano players are lousy percussionist

Comment by Jody Dunwoody — May 26, 2009
You just gotta feel it, man. Forget time signatures. Just let the liquidacity of the groovaliciousness take you to a higher place, homeslice.

Comment by Quizno — May 29, 2009
@ Jrad, why do you keep defending him?!?!?!? unless you are him!!!! in which case……PLEASE ACTUALLY BE AN EXPERT BEFORE YOU TRY TO MAKE US BELIEVE YOU ARE ONE!

Comment by NIK — July 13, 2009
…wow.
I come looking for help with my music theory homework on the syncopation of 6/8 time rhythms…and THIS is what I get!?

and LMAO! @ NIK’s last commment..pwuahahahahha~
I think Jrad just feels sorry for him : )

Comment by Amanda — October 15, 2009
love this 4/4 feel
people like you make musicians look stupid

Comment by B-cup — August 29, 2010