Time Lines Unit 1 Introduction
How to Play Quarter Notes and Rests

This unit introduces quarter notes and quarter rests in 2/4 and 3/4 time signatures. The quarter note has an oval notehead and a stem. Depending on where the notehead occurs on the staff, the stem will either point upward or downward, as shown below.

Examples of quarter notes with the stem up and the stem down.

The quarter rest looks very different from the quarter note. Rests indicate silence. Don’t play during the rest.

Example of a quarter rest.

The 2/4 time signature indicates that there are two beats in a measure and the quarter note (as well as the quarter rest) equals one beat. The 3/4 time signature indicates that there are three beats in a measure and the quarter note (as well as the quarter rest) equals one beat.

Rhythm exercises E101-E104 include all of the possible combinations of quarter notes and quarter rests in 2/4. Rhythm exercises E105-E112 include all of the possible combinations of quarter notes and quarter rests in 3/4.

Each quarter note should be played for one full beat. For example, if the music includes a quarter note on beat one, followed by a quarter rest on beat two (like E102), cut off the sound of the quarter note right at the beginning of beat two. Listen to the audio examples on the website to hear how to play these rhythms accurately.

Later in this method we will cover some other rest values that will be used instead of consecutive quarter rests, but for now, be sure to count each note and rest carefully.