Identifying Eighth Note Rhythms
There is a simple system for identifying any note’s position in a bar by naming notes off the beat according to which beat they come directly after. The system works as follows. Within a bar of continuous eighth notes in * time, there are eight possible places where notes could occur.
The first beat is called one (1), the next eighth note is called the "and of one", then comes beat two, the next eighth note is called the "and of two", then beat three, followed by the "and of three", then beat four, followed by the "and of four" which is the final eighth note in the bar. These positions are demonstrated in the following notation.
This system is particularly useful if you are having trouble with the timing of a rhythm. You simply identify where the notes occur in relation to each beat and then count them slowly until you have memorized the rhythm. Here is an example of how the system can be used to analyze rhythms.
In the first bar the notes occur on beat 1 (dotted quarter note), then the and of two, three, and the and of 3. In the second bar, the notes occur on the and of 1, the and of 3 and the and of 4. Even though there are many rests here, it is important to keep a constant eighth note strumming motion going in the air just above the strings throughout the example.
Here is another example which uses eighth rests. Try analyzing it the same way as demonstrated in the previous diagram and then learn this example from memory. Remember to count out loud as you play.
