2. Notes and Rhythms

“Making Theory Practical: Rhythm 1.5 – Rests.” Fretboard Anatomy, https://fretboardanatomy.com/making-theory-practical-rhythm-1-5-rests/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

2.1 Types and Durations of Notes

In sheet music, different types of notes represent varying relative durations of time, indicating how long each note should be held relative to the beat and time signature(“Notation Essentials”).

Note Category

  • Whole Note – 4 Beats
  • Half Note – 2 Beats
  • Quarter Note – 1 Beat
  • Eighth Note – 1/2 Beat

See the pattern? How many beats do you think a sixteenth note gets?

  • Different type of notes are used to represent the different duration in a bar

2.2 Types and Durations of Rests

Rest is more like the opposite of note, a rest indicates a pause in a specific measure.

Rest Category

  • Whole Rest – 4 Beats
  • Half Rest – 2 Beats
  • Quarter Rest – 1 beat
  • Eighth Rest – 1/2 Beat
  • Sixteenth Rest – 1/4 Beat
  • Different type of rests are used to represent the different duration of silence in a bar

2.3 Sharp(♯) and Flat(♭)

A sharp raises the pitch of a note by a half step, while a flat lowers the pitch of a note by a half step(“Accidental (Music)”). Accidentals refer to sharps and flats, shown on the piano keyboard as the black keys.

2.4 Counting Rhythms Aloud

2.5 To do

To keep practicing written rhythms to sound, visit ToneSavvy, an app that will present you with rhythms that you’ll “play” by pressing the spacebar! Keep going until you can get 5 correct in a row! Based on our tutorial, we recommend the following settings:

  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Speed: 60BPM
  • Require holding note for entire duration: Yes
  • Allow ties: No

Feel free to increase difficulty or speed if you want more of a challenge!

2.6 More to explore

Now that you’ve completed chapters 1 and 2 on rhythm and pitch in sheet music, you can write your own song! Musescore is a free downloadable app that allows you to compose your own piece on the piano, or any other instrument you like, and will play your song back for you instantly, so that you can listen and edit.

Reference

“Notation Essentials.” Nice Chord, https://nicechord.com/post/notation-essentials/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

“Accidental (Music).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Nov. 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidental_(music).