Syncopation in music means playing notes slightly delayed (i.e., emphasizing weak beats aka off-beat) rather than perfect mechanical timing on the piano roll (or step-sequencer). For example, you can temporarily disable note quantization in your digital audio workstation and drag your notes in a subtle way to achieve your desired syncopated rhythm for your music.

The same technique of syncopation can also be achieved by playing notes a little bit ahead of perfect timing instead of the contrary. Syncopation is often used when sequencing drums but you can even go further to apply the same technique to melodies and background chord progression when playing synth pads, synth strings, and blah-blah, yes that stuff.
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