Transcript Music_Theory_04_Counting_Rhythm

Music Theory
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Counting Rhythm
Music Theory
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Counting Rhythm
“Counting” refers to either writing out the counts for a measure, or saying
the counting out loud. Learning to write in the counting is very different
than learning to say it out loud.
Right now, “counting” is going to mean only writing in your counts.
Music Theory
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COUNTING RULE #1
Always write out where each beat is in the measure.
The top number in the time signature shows there are 4 beats in the
measure so you know for sure that you will be writing the numbers 1, 2, 3,
4 somewhere.
4
4
1
2
3
4
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The bottom number in the time signature shows that each beat is 1 quarter
note long. As you analyze a measure of music, begin to identify which
notes fall within each beat.
4
4
1
2
3
4
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COUNTING RULE #2
The first note or rest in the measure is always labeled as count 1.
The only exception is if the piece begins with a pick-up measure.
4
4
1
2
3
4
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COUNTING RULE #3
A note and rest of equal value are counted the same. They are
interchangeable.
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4
1
2
3
4
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Counting Rhythm
COUNTING RULE #4
Ignore all articulation markings and ties; they do not affect your labeling.
<
<
4
4
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COUNTING RULE #5
If the measure does not contain 8th or 16th notes/rests, you only need to
write in the beats.
4
4
1
2
3
4
Recall the duration of each note (or rest). When you label, line up your
numbers with the notes. If a note fills the whole beat, move on to the next
number. If a note takes up more than a beat, write the next beat so that it
looks evenly spaced from the others.
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This is another example of a measure with no 8th or 16th notes.
4
4
1
2
3
4
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COUNTING RULE #6
If the measure contains any 8th notes (or rests) write in all “&” counts.
4
4
1
&
2
&
3
&
4
&
Write in the numbers, lining them up with the start of each beat. Since
there are 8th notes, write in every “&” count.
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Another example of a measure with 8th notes. Imagine the visual length of
each note.
4
4
1
&
2
&
3
&
4
&
For each note, recall how many 8th notes it is equal to. Then place a
number or “&” in order from left to right. Remember, that your numbers
and “&” counts will always alternate and that you will have 4 of each.
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Remember that you can replace any note with its rest of the same value,
and the counting stays the same.
4
4
1
&
2
&
3
&
4
&
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Another example where the shortest duration is an 8th rest. First, picture
how long each note is. Remember that whatever is first in the measure is
counted as 1.
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4
1
&
2
&
3
&
4
&
The 8th rest on count 1 causes each quarter note to begin on “&” counts.
This may look odd since we usually think of quarter notes starting on the
beat.
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An example using all 8th notes or rests.
4
4
1
&
2
&
3
&
4
&
If you have a measure of only 8th notes and rests, then there are 8 objects,
each worth 1/8th of the measure. You simply label every object alternating
between numbers and “&” counts in order from left to right.
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COUNTING RULE #7
If a beat includes a 16th note, write in all the 16th note counts (beat
number, e, &, a) for that beat.
These These
are theare
eighth
the sixteenth
notes andnotes
rest (single
(two beams).
flag/beam).
4
4
1
e
&
a
2
&
3
&
4
e
&
a
Recall that a beat can be broken into 2 8thnotes or 4 16th notes, or 1 8th note
and 2 16th notes. Get a visual sense of which notes are grouped onto each
beat. The beaming will help you see this. A 16th note is almost always
beamed to another 16th note or an 8th note.
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Another example using the dotted eighth-sixteenth rhythm.
These are
These
theare
eighth
the sixteenth
notes andnotes
rests (two
(single
beams).
flag/beam).
4
4
1
e
&
a
2
&
3
e
&
a
4
e
&
a
Look at the beaming to help identify which notes fall within each beat. If a
beat includes a 16th note, write in all the 16th note counts (beat number, e, &,
a).
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Note and Rest Durations