Rhythm & Notation: The Pulse of Music
Understanding how music is organized in time.
Rhythm is the heartbeat of music! It's about how long sounds last and the patterns they create. This lesson will guide you through the basics of reading and writing rhythm.
Notes tell us not only the pitch but also how long to hold the sound. Different note shapes represent different durations.
Common Note Values:
- Semibreve (Whole Note): Typically 4 beats.
- Minim (Half Note): Typically 2 beats.
- Crotchet (Quarter Note): Typically 1 beat.
- Quaver (Eighth Note): Typically 1/2 beat.
- Semiquaver (Sixteenth Note): Typically 1/4 beat.
(Beat values can change based on the time signature, but these are common in 4/4 time.)
Each note value is half the duration of the one before it. For example, two minims equal one semibreve.
Practice Time!
Test your knowledge with a quick quiz. (Interactive quiz coming soon!)
Question: In 3/4 time, how many quavers can fit into one bar?
(Hint: How many crotchet beats are there? How many quavers in a crotchet?)
Show Answer
There are 3 crotchet beats. Each crotchet is 2 quavers. So, 3 x 2 = 6 quavers.
Lesson Summary
- Note values (semibreve, minim, crotchet, etc.) determine sound duration.
- Rests indicate silence and correspond to note values.
- Dots add half the note's original value; ties combine notes of the same pitch.
- Time signatures (e.g., 4/4, 3/4) define the beat structure of music.
- Beams group shorter notes like quavers and semiquavers for readability.