Time-frequency　analysis　(TFA)　is　an　important　tool　to　process　non-stationary　signals　and　detect　bearing　faults.　For　considering　energy　concentration,　computational　efficiency,　and　computational　accuracy,　a　novel　TFA　technique,　termed　synchronous　odd　symmetric　transform　(SOST)　is　proposed　in　this　paper.　In　the　SOST,　the　odd　symmetry　extraction　operator　(OSEO)　is　defined　according　to　the　odd　symmetric　window　based　short-time　Fourier　transform　(OSTFT).　The　main　idea　of　OSEO　is　to　obtain　accurate　instantaneous　frequency　(IF)　ridges　in　a　satisfactory　computation　time.　Meanwhile,　the　STFT　result　is　retained　at　the　IF　ridges,　and　the　time–frequency　representation　(TFR)　with　high　energy　concentration　is　calculated.　The　performance　of　the　developed　technique　is　verified　by　a　multi-component　signal　with　strong　frequency-modulated　and　amplitude-modulated　(FM-AM)　laws.　Experimental　analysis　results　show　that　the　proposed　SOST　can　display　bearing　fault-related　time–frequency　trajectories　with　high　time–frequency　resolution.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd