Understanding Rhythms
Regardless of the style of music you play, it is essential to have a good knowledge of rhythms and the note and rest values used to create them. All players use the same notes, but it is largely the control of timing, rhythms and phrasing which separates the great players from the average.
There are thousands of licks and solos on albums which use only a few notes (e.g., the notes of the major scale) but are made interesting by the rhythm with which those notes are played. The following table shows whole, half, quarter and eighth notes, along with their equivalent rests. You may already know these values, but it is worth reminding yourself how the notes divide into two each time you go to a smaller note value.
Note and Rest Values
Bar lines are drawn across the staff, which divides the music into sections called Bars or Measures. A Double bar line signifies either the end of the music, or the end of an important section of it.
The Four Four Time Signature
These two numbers are called the four four time signature. They are placed after the treble clef. The * time signature tells you there are four beats in each bar. There are four quarter notes in one bar of music in * time.
The Whole Note
This is a whole note. It lasts for four beats. There is one whole note in one bar of * time.
The Whole Rest
This symbol is called a whole rest. It indicates either four beats of silence or a whole bar of silence.
In the following example, the guitar plays a whole note in one bar and nothing in the following bar (a whole rest). This means that in a band situation there is a lot of space for the other instruments. Remember to keep counting regardless of whether you see notes or rests in the music.
The Half Note and Half Rest
This is a half note. It has a value of two beats. There are two half notes in one bar of * time.
The guitar part in this example makes use of whole notes, whole rests, half notes and half rests.
The Quarter Note
This is a quarter note. It lasts for one beat. There are four quarter notes in one bar of * time.
The Quarter Rest
This symbol is a quarter rest. It indicates one beat of silence. Do not play any note. Small counting numbers are placed under rests.
This example demonstrates quarter notes and quarter rests. As with previous examples.
