2 More Open Strings, Rhythms & Time Signatures
Introduction
In this unit you will learn three more notes, eighth-note rhythms and two more time signatures. We will continue to follow the same procedure in which you learn symbols and then sight-read them in the Let’s Play section below. Let’s begin!
Notations
Notes
The Note ‘E’
‘E’ is in the top space of the staff. It is played as the first string open.
The Note ‘G’
‘G’ is on the second line of the staff. It is played as the third string open.
The Note ‘A’
‘A’ is on the leger second line. It is played as the fifth string open. To remember the pitch A, imagine two diagonal lines that touch at the top and run tangentially along the note head. Notice how it makes an upper case letter A.
Rhythms
An eighth note sustains for half of a beat. The eighth note can be written in two ways: either with a beam or a flag.
Eighth Notes Beamed
When eighth notes are grouped, each note consists of a note head that is filled in, a stem and a beam. Notice that the beam connects two eighth notes.
Eighth Note Flagged
When eighth notes are not grouped each note contains a flag(instead of a beam).
Eighth Rest
The eighth rest creates silence for half of a beat. It consists of a diagonal line with a small flag.
How To Count Eighth Notes
The first half of the beat receives a number that represents the beat’s placement in the measure. The second half of the beat receives the word and (represented by the symbol &). Whenever music contains eighth-note rhythms I suggest you count with ‘&’ throughout the entire piece, even when you encounter quarter, half and whole-note rhythms. This will help you maintain a steady beat.
Time Signatures & Meter
2/4 Time Signature
The 2/4 time signature = 2 x 1/4 notes per measure. In other words, there are 2 quarter notes per measure. When measures contain two beat groupings, musicians refer to the music as being in duple meter. It is important to allow yourself to feel the groupings of twos and accent certain sounds accordingly.
3/4 Time Signature
The 3/4 time signature = 3 x 1/4 notes per measure. In other words, there are 3 quarter notes per measure. When measures contain three beat groupings, musicians refer to the music as being in triple meter. It is important to allow yourself to feel the groupings of threes and accent certain sounds accordingly. By the way, 4/4 time is considered quadruple meter because the measures contain four beat groupings.
Let’s Play |
Sight-Reading Tips
Rhythmic Feel
A recent study suggests that sight-reading improves when musicians focus on the feel of the meter, instead of individual beats.[1] To play with the feel of the meter, start by emphasizing the first beat of each measure more than the others.
If you want to learn more about time signatures and meter please visit: http://openmusictheory.com/meter.html
Patterns
For the last few decades, music educators have studied a phenomenon called chunking. Chunking is when musicians visually perceive patterns rather th