Rhythm
Music notes are always played to a strict rhythm or beat. The first thing to understand about rhythm is how many beats are in each measure or bar of music.
Time Signatures
At the beginning of each piece of music, after the treble clef, is the Time Signature.
The time signature indicates the number of beats per bar (the top number) and the type of note receiving one beat (the bottom number). For example:
In each bar of music here there are four beats.
The next thing to understand about rhythm is the length or value of each note. When a note is written as an open circle only it is called a whole note and lasts for a total of four beats.
The Whole Note
This is a whole note. It lasts for four beats.
A whole note lasts for one entire bar of * time. In the following piece of music a whole note is played on the first beat of each bar and held for four beats. The sound of the note should ring for four beats. The big counting number 1 below the music indicates the note is played. The smaller numbers 2, 3 and 4 indicate the note is held until the next note.
The other two common note values are the half and quarter notes.
The Half Note
This is a half note. It lasts for two beats.
There are two half notes to each bar of * time.
The Quarter Note
This is a quarter note. It lasts for one beat.
There are four quarter notes to each bar of * time.
