Rhythm Cells
• There are only 12 rhythmic shapes used in western sheet music.
• Eight 4-count rhythmic shapes.
• Four 3-count rhythmic shapes.
-These are also used for 'triplet' figures.
• Combine these 12 shapes with rests and ties to create any rhythm!.
Note Values
Note | Rest | Name | Value |
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Whole | 4 Beats |
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Half | 2 Beats |
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Quarter | 1 Beat |
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Eighth | 2 per Beat |
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Sixteenth | 4 per Beat |
These notes are named after how they function in 4-4 time
Definitions
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Tie | Combines two rhythm cells together |
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Note | A distinct musical sound |
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Rest | A note of musical silence |
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Dot | An augmentation dot. Increases the value by 1/2 |
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Staccato | An diminution dot. Shortens the duration of a note |
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Measure; Bar | A unit of musical time that always starts on count '1' |
Time Signatures
Time Signature: How many notes of which value fill a measure.
3-4 time is saying three 'quarter-notes' fill one measure.
some other common time signatures:

some other common time signatures:









