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Review - Simple Time Rests - Rules

Rests have Rules. These Rules are based on the Pulse.

Here are the 6 Rules for adding rests in Simple Time:

1. A Strong Pulse will join a Weak Pulse into one rest.
2. A Medium Pulse will join a Weak Pulse into one rest.
3. A Weak Pulse will not join a Medium Pulse. You must use 2 separate rests.
4. A Weak Pulse will not join a Weak Pulse. You must use 2 separate rests.
5. A Whole Measure of Silence in Simple Time is a Whole Rest (except in 4/2 Time).
6. Do not use dotted rests in Simple Time.

Simple Time Rests - Basic Beats Break Down into 4

The Top Number of a Time Signature indicates how many Basic Beats there are in each measure.

• If the Top Number is 2, the Time Signature has a Duple Pulse ( Strong - weak);
• If the Top Number is 3, the Time Signature has a Triple Pulse (Strong - weak - weak);
• If the Top Number is 4, the Time Signature has a Quadruple Pulse (Strong - weak - Medium - weak).

The Bottom Number of a Time Signature indicates the value of the note that receives one Basic Beat.

In Simple Time, the "magic number" is 4. Every Basic Beat can break down into (or be divided by) 4. This is called the Breakdown of the Basic Beat.

In Compound Time, the "magic number" is 3. This is why we can use dotted rests only in Compound Time.

When a Basic Beat requires rests to be a complete Basic Beat, use the Breakdown Pulse to add the rests. You must complete that Basic Beat before going to the next Basic Beat.

• A half note breaks down into 4 eighth notes (which have a pulse of Strong - weak - Medium - weak);
• A quarter note breaks down into 4 sixteenth notes (which have a pulse of Strong - weak - Medium - weak);
• An eighth note breaks down into 4 thirty-second notes (which have a pulse of Strong - weak - Medium - weak).

Basic Beat Pulse and Breakdown Beat Pulse

When a Basic Beat is not complete and we have to add rests, we need to look at the pulse of the Breakdown of each Basic Beat.

When adding rests, we must always complete each Basic Beat with the necessary rests before going to the next Basic Beat. Always follow Rules #1 to #4 when adding multiple rests!

Remember - since Simple Time Rest Rule #6 states that we do not use dotted rests in Simple Time, we simply use more than one rest! We explored the reason behind this in Blog 2 of this series.

A Half Note Basic Beat will breakdown into 4 Eighth Notes. Those 4 Eighth Notes will have a Breakdown Pulse of Strong - weak - Medium - weak. This chart shows how rests can be added to complete a Half Note Basic Beat:

Please note that I have specifically NOT joined the flags of the eighth notes (above), sixteenth notes (below) and thirty-second notes (3rd example) to make it easier for you see the single note values. What is important is to see how each note can break down into 4 breakdown beats!

A Quarter Note Basic Beat will breakdown into 4 Sixteenth Notes. Those 4 Sixteenth Notes will have a Breakdown Pulse of Strong - weak - Medium - weak. This chart shows how rests can be added to complete a Quarter Note Basic Beat:

An Eighth Note Basic Beat will breakdown into 4 Thirty-Second Notes. Those 4 Thirty-Second Notes will have a Breakdown Pulse of Strong - weak - Medium - weak. This chart shows how rests can be added to complete an Eighth Note Basic Beat:

Remember: when adding rests, we must always complete each Basic Beat with the necessary rests before going to the next Basic Beat. You cannot combine some rests from one Basic Beat and some rests from the next Basic Beat.

Pop Quiz Time!

Can you identify which measures have the rests added Correctly and which are Incorrect?

Pop Quiz #1:

Pop Quiz #2 (a little harder!):

Before you look at the answers below, if you are a teacher and these "Simple Time Rest Rules" are new to you, please do one of the 2 options below:

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Work through each page in the workbook and mark yourself with the Answer Book.

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I can just about guarantee you that you will learn something new!

2.  Take the Ultimate Music Theory Certification Course.

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This course is more than just Theory - it is a Pedagogically based Certification Course that will make you a better teacher - guaranteed!

If you are a student and these "Simple Time Rest Rules" are new concepts for you, please consider taking the Complete Music Theory Online Course.

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Now....here is the correct answer to Pop Quiz #1:

Here is the correct answer to Pop Quiz #2:

That is right, every measure was incorrect. Can you see why? (Hint - if you use the Scoops, Pulses, Plus and Tilde Signs, the answers will be obvious!)

I hope that you have enjoyed this Series on Simple Time Rests! And remember....