Mr Greezy, I hope this explanation seems straight forward. A whole note has a length of time equal to four beats in a four/four time signature. So each beat is then a quarter of a whole note. In Cajun two steps your bass buttons are playing the quarter notes, keeping the beat. The melody buttons are usually playing eighth notes, so that's two notes per quarter note or two notes per one bass chord. When you play on-the-beat the bass chords and a melody note are in step - that is they occur simultaneously and so playing four quarter note bass chords the melody eighth notes coincide with the chord for 1,3,5 and 7. You can also play off-the-beat, say the last bar of an A-part, by playing the same four quarter note bass chords with five melody notes such as, in order, an eighth note, a quarter note, a three quarter note and two eighth melody notes for the repeat pick-up. In this case the bass chords are the same as before at the 1,3,5 and 7 places but the melody notes are now played at the 1,2,4 and 7 places i.e. off-beat. This is syncopation.

If you can count to eight you will have cracked this and verified by using four fingers of the left hand and five of the right on a flat surface. You will also have eclipsed Prof. Nedro's complete knowledge of musical theory.

A three quarter note..?

A quarter note with flags ?
An eighth note with flags..
A whacked out triplet ?

Three quarter note..
I finally figured it out..

A dotted half note.

Mr Guy. Whew! We sure don't hear that kind of talk at a local jam session or when we visit the old masters to hear them play a few songs and maybe join them for cush cush, loss bread, and some coffee milk if asked.
I'm gonna study that definition. I want to find a recording that gives an obvious example of this rubato or syncopation. Or maybe you or Meloderon know of one.

As for Prof Nedro. I was just messing with him. He's a good man. I know what he's talking about with them 1/8th notes, but it makes me laugh and then almost cry to know that many an ole timer Cajun accordion player had not even one inkling of what an 1/8th note, rubato, or syncopation was. Hell, there weren't even French words for such things. That's why someone like my Grandpa would have slapped another across the face if mention was made of these words. He'd a thought he was being cussed in some unknown language or his person and his music was being insulted with that music theory talk going over his head. It's so hilarious to me that it's almost sad for us poor ignorant Cajuns that could sure play the living hell out of Cajun music without so much as one class or one word on music theory possessed within our collective memories. You gotta wonder how that happened.

Mr Greezy your down-home philosophy could be right in step with Orwell's 'Ministry of Truth' - check out their slogans. Mr Jeff - believe it or not the fractional musical notes are not used in the UK e.g. eighth = quaver; quarter = crotchet; three quarter = dotted crotchet etc. so I was translating. Once again we are separated by a common language.

Mr. Jeff - error in translation - 'three quarter' should have read 'three eighths'.

Well, let's see what I can do with that to make it even more complex. : )

Yes, I am familiar with the Brit music lingo..
I have quite a few Melodeon books from the "island" : )

I really don't know any record with examples of rubato or syncopation.
I know that syncopation has to do with playing beside the beat, but what Mr. Guy is writing look a bit mathematical to me just like everything what has to do with music-theory in which I'm not an expert.
I know how to find the ABCDEFG flat or sharp in a music-notation and that's it.
Until yesterday I never know about rubato
The effect we all want to get with playing Cajun is a matter of feeling and listen a lot to Cajun music is the most important thing to get it.
And dancing is a good friend for it, but not on wooden shoes

Chris Miller gives an example of it here:

Awesome.
Maybe Chris can explain it, because he knows everything about music theory and also know how to play Cajun Music

A great example! Chris is THA Man.
This version sounds quite "Creole", and I think there's a lot of Africa in it.
Syncopation of the most exciting aspects of Cajun/Creole music. I love it!

FLASHBACK: During rehearsal, Amede thumbs back a page and says, "Mais, Denus, let's take it again from the coda, and this time give me a little more fortissimo..."

Musical terms (Italian)

http://www.musictheory.org.uk/res-musical-terms/italian-musical-terms.php

more fortissimo = louder = piu forte

syncopation = sincope

Example of rubato

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAWCSDbt2rQ

Syncopation made easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9QnepxnMNU