Music Theory: Writing Down Rhythm

Introduction

• Focus on how to write down rhythm in music.
• Explanation covers essentials for grade one theory.
• Useful for anyone interested in understanding rhythm.

Note Values

Semibreve (Whole Note)

• Appearance: Simple circle
• Value: 4 beats
• Counting: 1, 2, 3, 4

Minim (Half Note)

• Appearance: Circle with a stem
• Value: 2 beats
• Stem Direction:
  • Down: Left-hand side
  • Up: Right-hand side

Crotchet (Quarter Note)

• Appearance: Filled circle with a stem
• Value: 1 beat

Quaver (Eighth Note)

• Appearance: Filled circle with a stem and one hook
• Value: 0.5 beats

Semiquaver (Sixteenth Note)

• Appearance: Filled circle with a stem and two hooks
• Value: 0.25 beats

Other Notes (Beyond Grade One Theory)

• Add more hooks for faster rhythms
• Example: Three hooks (Eighth of a beat), Four hooks (Sixteenth of a beat)

Rhythmic Values in Practice

• Semibreve: Count 4 beats (1, 2, 3, 4)
• Minim: Count 2 beats (1, 2)
• Crotchet: Count 1 beat (1, 2, 3, 4)
• Quaver: Two quavers per beat (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and)
• Semiquaver: Four per beat (1, 2, 1, 2)

Spelling of Note Values

• Semibreve: S-E-M-I-B-R-E-V-E
• Minim: M-I-N-I-M
• Crotchet (Often misspelled as crochet): C-R-O-T-C-H-E-T
• Quaver: Q-U-A-V-E-R
• Semiquaver: S-E-M-I-Q-U-A-V-E-R

Dotted Notes

• Staccato vs. Dotted Notes
  • Dot above/below a note: Staccato (detached)
  • Dot after a note: Increases note value by half

Examples

• Dotted Semibreve: 4 beats + 2 beats = 6 beats
• Dotted Minim: 2 beats + 1 beat = 3 beats
• Dotted Crotchet: 1 beat + 0.5 beats = 1.5 beats
• Common Pattern: Dotted crotchet + quaver (1.5 + 0.5 = 2 beats)
• Dotted Quaver: 0.5 beats + 0.25 beats = 0.75 beats
• Pattern: Dotted quaver + semiquaver (0.75 + 0.25 = 1 beat)

Rests (Silences)

• Silences/pauses can be dramatic.
• Different rest symbols indicate different beat values.

Types of Rests

• Semibreve Rest: Hangs from the fourth line (Worth 4 beats)
• Minim Rest: Sits on the third line (Worth 2 beats)
• Crotchet Rest: Various ways to write (Worth 1 beat)
  • Alternative form: Backwards 7
• Quaver Rest: Looks like a 7 (Worth 0.5 beats)
• Semiqaver Rest: Two hooks (Worth 0.25 beats)

Special Meanings

• Semibreve Rest: Also signifies a whole empty bar, regardless of beat count in the bar.
• Dotted Rests: Dot adds half the value of the rest it follows.

Mnemonic to Remember

• Semibreve: Suspended
• Minim: Mounted

Conclusion

• These basics cover the essentials of writing rhythm.
• More advanced topics may be covered in subsequent lessons.

Follow-Up

• Return for lesson two for further details.