In the last installment of this series we explored whole-note, half-note, and quarter-note durations. We learned that in
4/4 time, a whole note lasts for four beats, a half note for two beats, and a quarter note for one beat. In this lesson we’ll learn how to read 8th notes and 8th-note rests. Let’s dig in! 8th notes and 8th-note rests last for one half of a quarter note or quarter-note rest. As such, you can fit two 8th notes or rests in the same amount of space as one quarter note. Likewise, you can fit a total of eight 8th notes in a measure of 4/4. 8th notes are notated with a single flag, as demonstrated in the following example. If there are two or more consecutive 8th notes notated together, they are typically connected by a beam. Counting 8th Notes and 8th-Note Rests In Part 2 of this series, […]

February 2019 Issue