Basic rhythmic notation (a practical explanation)

Notes
\;'Nl,

Beat in ~ Time Signature

Name

~tV(\'

Whole note

4 beats

Half note

2 beats

YV\\ni~

(Y~t.,\-.~\

Quarter note

1 beat

j)

\u."vtv

Eighth note

i beat

Sixteenth note

~ ~1)1\,,y.t--ole,\'

..

beat

Name

Beat in ~ Time Signature

Whole note rest

4 beats

--- "''"'<\\""-

Half note rest

2 beats

Quarter note rest

I beat

v""'."l\l.:

Eighth note rest

! beat

"'' ~-

Sixteenth note rest

Rests
__. StW"I\~'i L

... t~\

fl'

C. A~l..i\ t ~-\

.. t ~I(.

beat

Time Signature

~i
Numbers

I
l ,~

~~

~I

or ~ indicate Time Signature, usually placed after the treble clef.

For example ~ or

c - Common Time means there are 4 quarter notes in one bar.

The top number 4 indicates number

of beats. The bottom number 4 indicates the type of notes that gets 1 beat. A beat is a pulse of each bar.

4 4 -

There are 4 beats in a bar.

Quarter no~es beats in one bar.

Example

~I

1 beat

IIi

1 beat

A Quarter note has a value of 1 beat

Book I

12

II~

1 beat