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
		Whole	4 Beats
		Half	2 Beats
		Quarter	1 Beat
		Eighth	2 per Beat
		Sixteenth	4 per Beat

These notes are named after how they function in 4-4 time

Definitions

	Tie	Combines two rhythm cells together
	Note	A distinct musical sound
	Rest	A note of musical silence
	Dot	An augmentation dot. Increases the value by 1/2
	Staccato	An diminution dot. Shortens the duration of a note
	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: