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

Basic Music Theory

Counting Eighths

Because there are two eighth notes for every beat, the count is a little

different than what you’ve learned already. With eighth notes, the beat

is subdivided, which means chopped up (but evenly chopped up).

Here are two measures of eighth notes in 2/4 time. And just so you

know, when said out loud, the “+” sign is pronounced “and.”

Be sure when you count these, that your foot comes down firmly on

each number. Your foot will be in the “up” position for the “+.” And

by the way, when a note falls on an “+,” it’s called an upbeat.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Example 15.2 8th note count in 2/4 time.

In 4/4 time the count would be “One And Two And Three And Four

And (said rhythmically with your foot tapping away like a machine).

Eighth Rests

The eighth rest also gets only 1/2 of a beat, but is silent. The eighth rest

looks like a seven with a strange growth at its tip and it lies in the middle

of the staff, like so:

Example 15.3 One little bitty eighth rest, all by its lonesome.

Counting Eighth Rests

The count for eighth rests is the same as the count for eighth notes,

only there is a parentheses ( ) around either the number or the +. When

counting the eighth rest, be sure you know which part of the beat the

1+ 2 + 1 + 2 +

upbeats