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

Basic Music Theory

Example 15.5 LEFT: Single sixteenth notes. RIGHT: Sixteenth notes in groups of 4 and 2.

Counting Sixteenths

I love counting sixteenth notes. Just like with eighth notes, the beat is

subdivided, but even more so than with eighths. Each beat is split up

into 4 parts, and each part has a name.

Again, when you’re counting, make sure your foot is tapping down on

each number (each beat), and up with each “+” symbol, just like with

eighth notes. The “e” occurs halfway up and the “a” occurs halfway

down.

Practice this count with your foot VERY SLOWLY until you’ve got it

down enough to do it more quickly.

Example 15.6 A measure of sixteenth notes with counting.

Sixteenth Rests

They look like eighth rests but with an extra little flag on them:

Example 15.7 A single sixteenth rest, all by its lonesome.

1 e +a 2 e +a 3 e+a 4 e+a