Rhythm: note lengths and rests

Note values

Each note shape has a length, measured against a steady pulse called the beat. In 4/4:

• Whole note: 4 beats
• Half note: 2 beats
• Quarter note: 1 beat
• Eighth note: ½ beat (two per beat)
• Sixteenth note: ¼ beat (four per beat)

Each value is half of the one before it.

Rests

A rest is a silence of a set length. Every note value has a matching rest.

Dots and ties

• A dot after a note adds half of its length: a dotted half note lasts 3 beats.
• A tie joins two notes of the same pitch into one longer sound.

Why it matters

Rhythm is as important as pitch. Practise with a metronome: say the beats aloud, then clap the written rhythm against them.