Basic Rhythm

Music requires two very important elements: pitch and rhythm. Pitch is the frequency (the "highness" and "lowness") of the notes. Rhythm determines how close or far apart the notes are.

You need a good sense of pitch and a good sense of rhythm. Well, today's post is all about learning the basics of rhythm. Let's get started with some of the basics.

Basic Rhythm Symbols

This is a time signature. The top four tells you that there are four beats in every bar (a "bar" is just a section of music - we use bars to divide up the music and make it easier to read). The bottom four tells you that a "quarter note" (or "ta") is worth one beat. The beat is usually just how fast you would tap your foot to the music (honestly, try tapping your foot along to a song, and you're probably tapping to the beat).

Songs also have a "tempo", which tells us how many beats are in a minute.


Length of different notes 

Quarter note ("ta") - 1 beat

Dotted Quarter note - 1 and a half beats

Two eighth notes ("ti-ti") - 1 beat in total, each note is half a beat

Half note - 2 beats

Whole note - 4 beats

Dotted Half Note - 3 beats

Tickati ("ticka-tee") - two sixteenth notes (1/4 beat each), followed by an eighth note (1/2 beat)

Titicka ("tee-ticka") - an eighth note (1/2 beat), followed by two sixteenth notes (1/4 beat each)



Lengths of different rests

A "rest" is pretty much what you'd expect - a pause in the music. Don't play anything on a rest.

Whole rest - 4 beats

Half rest - 2 beats

Eighth Rest - 1/2 a beat

Quarter rest - 1 beat