Simple Rhythms

Rhythm Symbols

𝅘𝅥 Quarter Note is the note that lasts one beat in common time.

𝅗𝅥 Half Note is equal to two quarter notes in length. It lasts two beats in common time.

𝅝 Whole Note is equal to four quarter notes in length. It lasts four beats in common time.

𝄂 Solid Double Barline is used at the end of a piece or a section of music.

Notice that half and quarter notes have a note head and a stem. The stem is the line that extends upward or downward from the notehead.

When the stem goes upward it should be on the right of the notehead. When it goes downward it should be on the left of the note.

For a review of Beats and Meter see Understanding Meter.

Common Rhythm Patterns

In common time the quarter note is one beat long and a measure last for four beats.

Counting in Common Time

Counting is when a person keeps time by saying numbers for each beat of a measure. So, for example, each quarter note in a measure will be counted with a number like this:

	1	2	3	4
play_circle 𝄴	𝅘𝅥	𝅘𝅥	𝅘𝅥	𝅘𝅥	𝄂

A half note will last for two counts. So the first half note will be counts 1 and 2, and the second half note will be counts 3 and 4.

	1 2	3 4
play_circle 𝄴	𝅗𝅥	𝅗𝅥	𝄂

A whole note will last for all four counts.

	1 2 3 4
play_circle 𝄴	𝅝	𝄂

Speaking Rhythms

It is also possible to speak rhythms. One common method is to use "ta" to represent a beat. If a note lasts longer than one beat then we add more a's to the sound to sustain it longer.

play_circle 𝄴	𝅘𝅥	𝅘𝅥	𝅘𝅥	𝅘𝅥	𝄂
	ta	ta	ta	ta

play_circle 𝄴	𝅗𝅥	𝅗𝅥	𝄂
	ta-a	ta-a

play_circle 𝄴	𝅝	𝄂
	ta-a-a-a

Rhythm Examples

In the examples below, a guitar is playing the notated rhythm with a click keeping the beat. Notice how the whole note is 4 beats long (4 clicks). Each rhythm begins with a four beat click-off.

play_circle 𝄴 𝅝 𝄂

In the next example notice how each half note lasts two beats.

play_circle 𝄴 𝅗𝅥 𝅗𝅥 𝄂

Notice how each quarter note lasts one beats.

play_circle 𝄴 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝄂

Now we can combine them to form three more rhythm patterns.

play_circle 𝄴 𝅗𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝄂

play_circle 𝄴 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝅗𝅥 𝄂

play_circle 𝄴 𝅘𝅥 𝅗𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝄂

Rests

𝄽 Quarter Rest is one quarter note of silence. It is one beat of silence in common time.

𝄼 Half Rest is equal to a half note of silence. It is two beats of silence in common time.

𝄻 Whole Rest is equal to a whole note of silence. It is three beats of silence in common time.

Common Rhythm Patterns with Rests

These patterns use only quarter notes and quarter rests.

play_circle 𝄴 𝅘𝅥 𝄽 𝅘𝅥 𝄽 𝄂

play_circle 𝄴 𝄽 𝅘𝅥 𝄽 𝅘𝅥 𝄂

play_circle 𝄴 𝅘𝅥 𝄽 𝄽 𝅘𝅥 𝄂

play_circle 𝄴 𝄽 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝄽 𝄂

play_circle 𝄴 𝅘𝅥 𝅘𝅥 𝄽 𝅘𝅥 𝄂