The Complete Idiot''s Guide to Music Theory

Par t 2:Rhythms

Note repeats are indicated by drawing slash notes through the main note. One

slash mark means play two notes in a row; each equal to half the value of the

original note. For example, if you draw a single slash through a quarter note,

you play two eighth notes; a single slash through an eighth note means you play

two sixteenth notes.

Tw oslash marks means you play fournotes in a row; each equal to one quarter

the value of the original note. For example, if you draw a double slash through

a quarter note, you play four sixteenth notes; a double slash through an eighth

note means you play four thirty-second notes. The following table indicates

some common note repeat values.

Note Repeat Markings

Marking Equals ...

86

You can also use

note repeats on dot-

ted notes. When

you put a single

slash on a dotted note,

you play three notes of the

next-higher value; when

you put a double slash on

a dotted note, you play

sixnotes of the second-

higher value.

Tip

Repeating Rests

There’s one last bit of repeat notation you need to know—and it concerns rest-

ing; not playing. In much orchestral music, each individual instrument spends a

lot of time not playing. While the composer could indicate all this inactivity by