syncopation

Accents landing off the strongest beats, giving a pushed, lively feel.

Accents placed where the beat is weak, so emphasis lands between the expected pulses instead of on them. The result feels pushed, urgent, alive, and it is the backbone of funk, most dance music, and nearly all groove. Your foot still taps the steady beat while the music plays against it.

The one-sentence definition at the top is the same one the Theory Aide extension shows as a tooltip inside Ableton Live. Hover any dotted term for its own.