Half Notes and Rests

Counting half notes and rests isn’t too hard; they are both worth 2 beats each (we use to call them “ta-ah” and “shhh”).

Things to remember:

A note makes sound

A rest is silent 

Let’s try an example:

If we count those half notes out loud it would sound like this:

“onnnnne threeee”

Did you notice that I didn’t count beats “two” and “four” out loud? Why?

Because the half note lasts for 2 full beats, which means the sound it makes carries through beats “two” and “four.”

 

Let’s try another example:

If we count those notes out loud it would sound like this:

“one twoooo four”

Did you notice that I didn’t count beat “three” out loud? Why?

Because the half note on beat “two” has to last for 2 full beats, which means the sound it makes carries through beat “three.”

 

You treat half rests the same way you would the half notes:

 

If we count those notes out loud it would sound like this:

“one two           ”

Did you notice that I didn’t count beats “three” and “four” out loud? Why?

Because the half rest is silent for 2 beats.