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Quarter rest, half rest, eighth rest:reading the rhythm
Notes show you what to play and when. Rests show you when to leave a space. Together, they form the rhythm. Print the poster for above your drum kit, or grab the booklet with explanations and exercises.
This guide covers common notes, rests and clefs. The values in beats apply to 4/4 time, where a quarter note lasts one beat.
How long is a quarter rest?
A quarter rest lasts one beat, the same as a quarter note. A half rest lasts two beats, an eighth rest half a beat. Every rest is as long as the note with the same name; you simply play nothing and keep counting.
- Whole rest
- 4 beats
- Half rest
- 2 beats
- Quarter rest
- 1 beat
- Eighth rest
- ½ beat
- Sixteenth rest
- ¼ beat
Overview
| Symbol | Name (English) | Type | Meaning / duration (4/4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| | Whole note | Note | Lasts 4 beats: a full bar in 4/4. |
| | Half note | Note | Lasts 2 beats. Two half notes make one bar. |
| | Quarter note | Note | Lasts 1 beat. Four quarter notes is one measure in 4/4. |
| | Eighth note | Note | Lasts ½ beat. Eight eighths is one measure in 4/4. |
| | Sixteenth note | Note | Lasts ¼ beat. Sixteen sixteenths is one measure. |
| | Thirty-second note | Note | Lasts ⅛ of a beat. Often used in fast passages. |
| | Dotted quarter note | Note | Quarter note (1 beat) + half its value (0.5 beat) = 1.5 beats. |
| | Dotted eighth | Note | Eighth note (0.5 beat) + half its value (0.25 beat) = 0.75 beats. |
| | Whole rest | Rest | Silence for 4 beats. |
| | Half rest | Rest | Silence for 2 beats. |
| | Quarter rest | Rest | Silence for 1 beat. |
| | Eighth rest | Rest | Silence for ½ a beat. |
| | Sixteenth rest | Rest | Silence for ¼ of a beat. |
| | Treble clef | Clef | For higher notes on the staff. |
| | Bass clef | Clef | For lower notes (bass line, left hand piano). |
Frequently asked questions
Questions about notes and rests
What is a quarter rest?
A quarter rest is one beat of silence in 4/4: exactly as long as a quarter note. You play nothing, but you keep counting. The symbol looks like a slanted zigzag.
How long is a quarter note?
In 4/4, a quarter note lasts one beat. Four quarter notes fill a whole bar, counted 1, 2, 3, 4. That stays the same at any tempo; only the speed of the beats changes.
What does a rest mean?
A rest shows when and for how long you leave a space. Keep counting through it so you come back in at the right moment.
How many beats does each rest last?
In 4/4, a whole rest lasts 4 beats, a half rest 2 beats and a quarter rest 1 beat. An eighth rest lasts half a beat; a sixteenth rest lasts a quarter of a beat.
What’s the difference between a note and a rest?
A note is a moment to play; a rest is a moment to stay silent. In 4/4, a quarter note and a quarter rest each take up one beat.
Which rests will I see most often?
Whole, half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth rests. There are shorter rests too, including the thirty-second rest.
How can I practise this on drums?
Start slowly and count aloud: “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and”. Play the rhythm and keep counting during the rests. A metronome helps you keep a steady tempo.
Want to work on counting and playing together? Come and try it at the drum kit.