Rests
Rests are used to indicate specific periods of silence. Below are three different rest values – the quarter rest worth one beat of silence, the half rest worth two beats of silence and the whole rest worth a whole bar of silence. Small counting numbers are placed under rests. Note that the half rest sits on top of the middle line of the staff, while the whole rest hangs below the fourth line.
Quarter Rest
Half Rest
Whole Rest
When a rest comes after you have played a note, you must stop the note sounding i.e. stop the strings vibrating. This can be done by placing your left hand fingers lightly across all the strings. Do not press too hard as this will produce a new note. This muting technique is also useful to stop previously played notes sounding at the same time as a new note is played.
Here is an example which uses all three rests shown above. Remember that a rest indicates silence. Don’t be lazy with the way you mute the strings. Be sure that there are absolutely no sounds still ringing when a rest is indicated. A rest may refer to your part only or the whole band. Notice how the rest in the final bar here leaves room for the drums on the recording. It is also important to count along with your metronome and tap your foot on each beat regardless of whether a note or a rest appears in the music. This you will develop a solid and confident sense of time.
The Eight Rest
This symbol is a eighth rest. It indicates half a beat of silence.
Rests With Chord Playing
A strummed rhythm can often be made more interesting by the use of rests as part of the pattern. When playing chords, rests are often achieved by placing the edge of the right hand over the strings (as shown in the photograph below). Practice this technique with the following example.
