Hi all - really struggling with syncopation. I am so conditioned with the beat that I am finding it massively difficult to play off the beat! Like all things, I know it is a case of practise, practise, practise but are there any tips as I feel so useless at it? I play and then halfway through the piece, revert to the beat! Aaaaargh!
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Definitely just takes practice to feel it..
But I find it makes sense in my brain as a kind of call and response. On the beat is the call and your note is the reply..
Which doesn’t help as much for 16ths 
So, @MikeC just recently mentioned Saher Galt’s videos on rhythm, and reminded me how good and educational they are. I have seen many of his and they are really good. Here is one on syncopation:
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Thanks a lot, @jbaird. The call and response makes sense and I will give it a whirl.
Thanks a lot, @joergkutter . I will watch this and see what I can glean from it to help me!
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When you struggle with syncopation, two things are usually at play:
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You’re not familiar enough with the material. The more deeply you know a piece (ideally by heart), the easier it becomes to lock into tricky rhythms and off-beat patterns.
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You’re overly focused on reading, counting, or anticipating the next note—which splits your attention. If you’re someone who can’t multitask easily (like trying to skate and chew gum at the same time), the fix is almost always to go back to point one: internalize the music first.
This took me a while
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Do you have access to a drum machine / drum app? @StreetwalkingCheetah
Thanks a lot, @Al1885. Appreciate your thoughts on it and will certainly be sure to put those things into practice. Fab playing and selection of basses too 
Thanks @Barney. I have an app but not a particularly good one. Not a massive fan of apps for metronomes/drums/etc. What is a good simple drum machine to get?
I can fully recommend Korg’s Volca line (For your purposes, Drum, Sample, or Beats). These little machines are cheap but great.
There’s a good free one from the guys at SBL
Try a simple 4/4 pattern and just get used to playing on the ‘and’ ie not playing on the beat. Don’t worry about what notes you’re playing just the rhythm.
It takes a while to train your brain to not play on the beat. It’s just, you know, practice 
Agree all above. My current instructor thinks it’s some sort of magic….turn on a drum beat and all my notation issues with some pieces are resolved. Play a few times with drums, turn offdrums, and perfecto.
The ‘response’ is a good technique as mentioned. Have a conversation with the piece.
Again mentioned, understand the music…read music not just tabs.