Eighth Notes and Rests
Counting eighth notes and rests can be hard. What you have to remember is that an eighth note or rest is only worth 1/2 (half) of a regular beat. So it takes TWO eighth notes to make 1 full beat.
We can’t count just 1 2 3 4 anymore, we have to divide the beats in half:
If you count the Normal beats it sounds like this:
“One two three four”
When you divide the beats in half it sounds like this:
“One and two and three and four and”
So let’s puts some notes in there and try to count it out loud:
Here’s what it would sound like:
“One two and three and four”
and you have to hold the quarter notes out so really it sounds like this:
“Ooonne two and three and fooouuur”
You treat the eighth rests the same way you would the eighth notes:
“onnnee two three foouuur”
Did you notice that I didn’t count the and of 2 or the and of 3? Why?
Because the eight rests are silent; you count them in your head, but not out loud.
