Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Counting rhythms
• Part 2 of 2: Understanding measure types

While there are many musicians who can simply play music by ear, most beginners need to learn how to read music first. Understanding how to count music is also important for dancers and can contribute to the enjoyment of a music lover. The ability to "count" and know how long each note should last plays an important role in learning to read music. It is also important to understand what a time signature is. This article describes the basics of counting in the four-quarter time (4/4) and introduces the different time signatures.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Counting rhythms

1. Learn what a size is. Music is divided into measures, which are indicated by a vertical line. Notes in music are named based on how much time they take up in a measure. Think of the size as a pie that can be cut into quarters, halves, eighths, or into a combination of different sized pie slices.
2. Learn the basic notation. In a 4/4 time signature, the names of the notes indicate which part of the measure they occupy. This requires a rudimentary understanding of fractions. A whole note lasts the whole bar. A half note takes up half the measure. From there you can calculate that:
   • Quarter notes occupy a quarter of the time.
   • Eighth notes occupy one eighth of the measure.
   • Sixteenth notes occupy one sixteenth of the measure.
   • Nuts can be combined to make one measure full. For example, 1 half note and 2 quarter notes makes 1 whole measure.
3. Practice learning to keep time. Tap the ground with your heel in an even rhythm and count to 4 each time, so: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4. The speed is less important than keeping the time even between each tap. A metronome can also help achieve an even rhythm.
   • Each complete 1-2-3-4 cycle is 1 measure.
4. Practice counting the length of the base notes. Say or sing "la" while counting to 4 in your mind. A whole note lasts the whole bar, so start singing "la" on 1, and hold it until you get to 4. You have now sung a whole note.
   • 2 half notes are one measure. Sing "la" on 1-2 and then a new "la" on 3-4.
   • There are 4 quarter notes in a measure. Sing "la" for every note you tap.
5. Add inserts for smaller notes. For eighth notes, you need to divide the measure into 8 equal pieces, but you still only tap 4 times per measure. As you count, add the words "and" between each digit, so: "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and." Practice this until you are comfortable. Each digit / word is 1 eighth note.
   • Apply the same principle to count sixteenth notes. You have to fit 16 sounds in 1 measure and do it evenly. A common way to do this is to say, `` 1-e-and-a, 2-e-and-a, 3-e-and-a, 4-e-and-a. '' Remember that the songs should still be played / sung perfectly evenly.
   • The same general idea can be applied to even smaller notes, but as these notes are rare, you don't have to bother with them just yet as a beginner.
6. Understand what a point means. Sometimes in notated music there is a small dot immediately after a note. This dot indicates that the note duration should be increased by 50%.
   • A half note, normally worth 2 beats, becomes 3 beats with a dot behind it.
   • A quarter note, worth 1 beat without the dot, becomes 1.5 beats with a dot after it.
7. Practice triplets. Triplets consist of 1 beat divided into 3 notes. This is tricky because all the notes you have practiced so far are equal fractions. Vocalizing syllables can help you master triplets.
   • Practice counting triplets like this: "1's and 2's, 3's and 4's.
   • Don't forget to keep the count steady with a metronome or by tapping your foot.
8. Break the rules. A fermata is a mark that resembles a dot with a rounded eyebrow above it that is above a note. This symbol means that you can hold the note for as long as you want.
   • If you are part of an ensemble, the conductor will determine how long it should last.
   • With a solo performance you decide in advance what the most suitable length will be.
   • If you're not sure how long to hold the fermata, listen to pre-existing recordings of the piece you're about to play. This will give you an idea of ​​what other performers have done and you can decide what sounds best for you.

Part 2 of 2: Understanding measure types

1. Find the time signature. In the top left corner of a sheet music page you will see different notations. The first is a symbol called the clef, which usually depends on the instrument for which the piece is composed. Then there are sometimes sharps or flats. Finally you see 2 numbers above each other. This is the time signature.
   • For the first part of this article, we used the time signature 4/4, which is indicated by 2 fours on top of each other.
2. Understand the meaning of each number in the time signature. The top number indicates the number of beats in a measure, and the bottom number indicates which note value the beat will receive. Usually there is a 4 at the bottom, which means that the measure is divided into quarter notes.
   • With a four-quarter time (4/4), the top number shows that there are 4 beats in a measure, and the bottom number shows that the measure is divided into quarter notes.
   • In two-quarter time (2/4), there are 2 beats in a measure, but you still count a quarter note per beat. So instead of counting 1-2-3-4, you count this time signature at the same tempo 1- 2, 1-2.
3. Practice a waltz. Music in the three-quarter time (3/4) counts 3 quarter notes per measure. The waltz is always danced in this rhythm, and finding a piece of music or song referred to as a waltz can help you hear the pattern more clearly. As you listen, keep counting in your mind "1-2-3, 1-2-3".
   • The song "Christmas Waltz" has a distinctive waltz rhythm, and also contains the lyrics "and this song of mine / in three-quarter time", so you can already recognize the rhythm.
4. Also look at less common time signatures. The top number always indicates the number of beats in a measure, and the bottom number always indicates the value of a beat. So if the bottom number is 8, you have to count in eighth notes. If the bottom number is 2, then you must count in half notes.
   • A six-eighth measure (6/8) resembles the waltz, in the sense that the beats are grouped in triplets, but then twice in a row. Beats 1 and 4 should be emphasized: "ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six." The first beat is slightly louder than the fourth beat.
   • A 3/2 measure means that you have to count 3 half notes for 1 measure. 1 half note is worth 2 quarter notes. Try to count to 6 evenly, emphasizing the odd numbers: `` ONE-two-THREE-four-FIVE-six, ONE-two-THREE-four-FIVE-six. '' By emphasizing the odd numbers, you give where each half note begins. With the even numbers you ensure a regular pace.
5. Practice counting while listening to music. Each time signature gives its own characteristic rhythmic sound to different types of music. For example, composers usually write marches in 2/4 time to create an atmosphere of stepping boots; 1-2, 1-2.
   • Pop music, country and western and other music aimed at a wide audience usually have a 2 or 4 form in the time signature, because people like to tap their foot to the music. Choosing a simple time signature makes it easy for the general public to enjoy.
   • Jazz and other modern styles of music often sound incoherent due to the use of unusual time signatures, such as 13/8, 5/4, and other odd time signatures. This won't be easy to include, but it can help you understand that time signature has a major impact on the overall feel of the music.