The Sixth Element Syncopated accents on the snare.
Channel: Pato Mendez
Date: 2019-02-17

This means that you shift the snare accents to places other than beats 2 and 4. This is a very powerful element.
The Sixth Element is highly effective for changing up the feel and flow of a beat. It’s a good way to add variety
without being too flashy. Most beats usually have accented snare notes on the 2 and 4. According to the great Bob
Moses, in his book Drum Wisdom (Modern Drummer Publications, Inc.), this is “...where the swing resides...These are
the beats that you snap your fingers on or clap your hands to.” (Drum Wisdom, pg. 12) Accenting on these beats
creates a very powerful groove. This is why the majority of beats have the snare on the 2 and 4.
When snare accents are syncopated, they are most commonly shifted to the “and” of the beat. Bob Moses speaks
more about this in his book: The “and” of 1 and the “and” of 3 “...feel like an elbow in the ribs. They have kind
of a jerky feeling that wakes you up.