Originally Posted by: basicsIt doesn't matter if the accented notes in the riff land on the T.S. pulses, right?

I'd let the song your writting answer that for you. If the music progresses naturally when the accented noted are syncopated with the T.S. pulse then it is OK. But if it sounds wrong, then the answer would be YES (it does matter, bad phrasing tells you so [remedy is in the previous post]). You will find depending on the case, the answer could be either yes or no. Go with what sounds natural and right. Accenting rhythm's against the T.S. naturally occuring pulse is a cool dynamic effect.