Intermediate
Anticipation
Land early, before the beat
A chord or note arrives a 16th or 8th note before the beat where it's expected, creating a forward-leaning, energised feel.
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BPM100
In depth
Anticipation is when a harmonic or melodic event arrives early — typically a 16th note before a new bar or phrase. Instead of changing chord on beat 1, the chord arrives on the 'and' of beat 4. This creates the impression that the music is rushing eagerly into the new phrase. It's used relentlessly in funk, soul, and pop keyboards and guitars, and is one of the defining features of professional-sounding arrangements.
How to identify it
- 1The chord or accent arrives just slightly before where you expected it
- 2Most obvious at phrase boundaries — the new section seems to start a 16th early
- 3Funk keyboard and guitar patterns frequently anticipate chords on the 'and' of 4
- 4The feel is 'rushing toward the downbeat' — eager, forward-leaning
Train this type
Famous examples
Superstition
Stevie Wonder
Keyboard anticipations throughout
Chameleon
Herbie Hancock
Anticipated chord changes
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Vocal phrase anticipation
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson
Bass anticipation pattern
Often confused with
All syncopation types