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What is syncopation?
Accenting the weak parts of a beat — the 'off-beats' — so the rhythm pushes against the steady pulse instead of sitting squarely on it. It's what makes music feel like it's leaning forward.
A steady pulse has strong beats (where you'd tap your foot) and weak ones in between. Syncopation puts the emphasis on those weak parts — the off-beats — or holds a note across a strong beat so the accent lands early or late. The pulse stays constant underneath; the melody or rhythm plays against it, creating tension and swing. It's fundamental to the feel of blues, jazz, ragtime, funk, and most African-derived music, and it's the opposite of a plain 'on-the-beat' march.
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