Sight Reading 101 - Notes and Rest Values

Sight Reading 101

Notes and Rest Values

Notes and rests are musical symbols on a staff that designate when to play and when to not play. Notes on a staff represent what pitch to play and for how long. Rests are musical symbols used to designate when to pause and not play.

Below is a table which displays whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes and rests, along with how long each one lasts, measured in beats.

Note and Rest Values

Counting Note and Rest Values

Whole Notes and Whole Rests:

Whole notes and rests are easy to count because they last for four beats.

Here is an example of a whole note and the count that it receives.

Here is an example of a whole rest and the count that it receives.

Half Note and Half Rests:

Half notes and rests each last for two beats.

Here is an example of half notes and the count that they receive.

Here is an example of half notes and rests in context on the staff.

Quarter Notes and Quarter Rests:

Quarter notes and rests last for one beat.

Here is an example of quarter notes and the count that they receive.

Here is an example of quarter notes and rests in context on the staff.
Sixteenth Rest

Eighth Notes and Eighth Rests:

Eighth notes and rests only last for one half of a beat. When you are counting the rhythm of eighth notes, the usual way is to say the word "and" between each beat. This subdivides each beat by two, and makes it easier to count the eighth notes evenly.

Like this:

One-and-two-and-three-and-four-and.

This manner of subdividing works the same for eighth rests, as well as eighth notes.

Here is an example of eighth notes and how to count them.

Here is an example of eighth notes and rests in context with other notes on the staff.

Sixteenth Notes and Sixteenth Rests:

Sixteenth notes and rests only last for one fourth of a beat. When you are counting the rhythm of sixteenth notes, the usual way is to say "e-and-a" between each beat. This subdivides each beat by four, and makes it easier to count the sixteenth notes and rests evenly.

Like this:

One e-and-a, Two e-and-a, Three e-and-a, Four e-and-a.

Here is an example of sixteenth notes and how to count them.

Here is an example of sixteenth notes and rests in context with other notes on the staff.
Sixteenth Rest