12.4 · Dividing the Beat

Silence counts

A rest is measured silence: it has a length and a symbol, exactly like a note. Every note value has one.

Four shapes of silence

Each rest lasts exactly as long as its note twin. Every demo plays note · rest · note. Listen to the silence holding its length in the middle.

1 beat: one silent beat. The workhorse
2 beats: two beats. Sits on the line
4 beats: four beats. Hangs below the line
0.5 beats: half a beat. A silent '&'

Punch a hole in the bar

Four kicks, then the same bar with beat 3 resting. The written bar shows the rest where the kick was.

1 2 (3) 4

Silence with a shape

A clapped phrase with its rest, then with the hole filled in. With the rest, the phrase has a shape; filled in, it's just even claps.

Quiz

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A rest is…

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson. A perfect run sticks: a later miss never undoes it.The dot & the tie →