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3 | Music Reading

Rhythm and Counting

Peter Kun Frary

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In this lesson we learn to count rhythm. We begin by studying duration and meter symbols and culminate with hands-on rhythm exercises.

Leeward Coast Guitars | Leeward Community College | Peter Kun Frary

©Peter Kun FraryLCG

Note Duration and Meter Signatures | Professor Peter (6:08)

Note Durations

Learn the names of the basic note durations. Stems may point up or down for the same duration.

duration names

Fraction Cake

Remember the fraction cake from grade school? You learned that four quarters equal a whole, two quarters equal a half, two eighths equal a quarter, etc.

Fraction Cake | A cake with one quarter (1/4) removed. | Wikimedia Commons

$fraction cake$

The names and values of note durations are derived from fractions. For example, a quarter note is half as long as a half note. The chart below illustrates this "fraction cake" relationship between note values: whole note equals the entire cake, two half notes equal a whole, four quarter notes equal a whole, etc.

$"fraction pie" relationship between note values ©FRARY$

Beams replace the flag in groups of eighth note or shorter durations.

Measures

The staff is divided into groups of beats called measures. Measures are separated by a vertical line called a bar line. A double bar line signifies the end of a section.

Measures and barlines ©FRARY

Each measure contains a pattern of stressed and unstressed beats corresponding to the number of beats in the meter.

Meter Signature

Three different meters are used in this course:

Duple meter, two beats in a strong-weak pattern, 1-2 (e.g., 2/4)

Triple meter, three beats in a strong-weak-weak pattern, 1-2-3 (e.g., 3/4)

Quadruple meter, four beats in a strong-weak-secondary strong-weak pattern, 1-2-3-4 (e.g., 4/4).

If necessary, review the basics of meters here.

To indicate meter, a meter signature (or time signature) is placed at the beginning of the score, immediately after the clef symbol or key signature:

The top number of the meter signature is both the meter and number of beats in a measure. For example, 3 on top indicates triple meter and 3 beats per measure.

The bottom number of the meter signature is the note value equal to 1 beat. Thus, the 4 on the bottom designates the quarter note as equal to 1 beat.

Note Values in Beats

Now that you know the quarter note is equal to 1 beat, you can calculate other note durations using proportions derived from fractions. For example, if a quarter note equals 1 beat, a half note equals 2 beats, a whole note equals 4 beats, etc.

The most practical approach is to simply memorize beat values. These note durations are valid for quarter note meters such as 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4:

note durations in beats ©FRARY

Even if you plan to read tablature, memorize the duration values listed above and you'll be able to play any piece in this textbook using TAB for pitches and fingering, and the above note values for rhythm.

Study Questions

1. What does this meter signature tell the player?

meter

2. How many beats does this note receive? [answers below]

Counting Rhythm

Next, practice counting simple rhythms. For note durations equal to the beat or longer, count the meter aloud as you clap or play the rhythms. For example, count 1-2-3-4 in 4/4 meter, 1-2-3 in 3/4 meter and 1-2 in 2/4 meter. Align note durations with the numbers as you count.

Each audio track has a metronome countdown and the musical exercise repeats three times. Let's give it a try:

Da Beat Thing "How to" Video | The same video is used for both my guitar and 'ukulele courses. Why? Because notes counting is exactly the same. If you wish to play Exercise A with the 'ukulele, use the open 2nd string (3:40).

Counting Example A | Count 1-2 aloud as you clap the rhythms. This example is Exercise A on the next page.

Counting Division

When a beat is divided into two equal parts the rhythm is called division. To count division, say “and” between beat numbers. When spoken evenly, these syllables create the rhythm of division. Division is notated as eighth notes in quarter note meters such as 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4. Let's count through quarter and eighth notes:

Division Counting | Speak the beat numbers or words as you clap the beat.

Rhythm Words

Words create rhythms when spoken while clapping the beat. In the above exercise, a one-syllable word, eat, represents quarter notes (equal to the beat), and a two-syllable, su-shi, simulates eighth notes (division of the beat).

Need help understanding rhythm and counting? Ask questions in class or email for a Zoom or office appointment and we'll help you understand.

On the next page we will apply your new knowledge with five rhythm exercises from Da Beat Thing.

Answers

The 2/4 indicates duple meter, i.e., two beats per measure and a quarter note equals one beat.

The whole note receives four beats in 4/4 meter.

Download this worksheet for more practice recognizing note durations:

Download | Note Values PDF

Vocabulary

meter signature, whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note, bar line, double bar line, downbeat, division