Music Theory 101: Reading Music Part II (Rhythm and Counting)

So let’s read some more music… Like I said last week music isn’t just about tones or melodies but about rhythm.  Rhythm, the pattern of regular or irregular pulses caused in music by the occurrence of strong and weak melodic and harmonic beats. So how do we know what the beat or the pattern is in music?  Usually by quarter notes, half notes, whole notes, eight notes, sixteen notes.

When you see a whole note, and your time signature is 4/4 you hold the note for 4 counts.   If you see quarter notes you would play on each count , 1, 2, 3, 4.   If you’re doing half notes you hold the tone for 2 counts.  If you see eight notes you hold it for 1.5 counts.  Usually that is counted as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1.  The ‘and’ is the eight note.  When you see sixteens notes you count the following way:  1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a 1.

Now usually I’d make a video to show you guys, but I found this great video that shows us.  I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too.