Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

12: The Sound of Silence

3. How many beats does a quarter rest get?


4. How many beats does a half rest get?


5. How many beats does a whole rest get?


6. Which line does the whole rest hang from?


7. Which line does the half rest sit on?


8. On a scratch piece of staff paper, draw 5 whole
   rests, 5 half rests, and 5 quarter rests.
   3. 1
   4. 2
   5. 4
   6. 4th
   7. 3rd

Practical Use

1. Fill up a line of staff paper alternating whole and half rests. Put an h
   below the half rests and a w under the whole rests.


2. Draw a bass clef at the beginning of a blank staff. Write in as many
   notes and rests as you can comfortably fit. Include all notes and rests
   you’ve learned. Though the rests must go in specific places, use many
   different notes from high to low.


3. Go back through these notes and rests and name them. Letter names
   for the notes (A-G) and h,w,q for rests.