Rhythm Symbols

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Rhythm Symbols
Island Park Elementary School

Rhythm Symbols Lesson

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Rhythm Symbols

Rhythm is the pattern of long and short sounds. All music has rhythm. In order to show this rhythm on paper, we need more symbols.

This is a barline.

A barline divides the staff.

This is a measure.

A measure is the distance between two barlines.

This is a double barline.

A double barline is used at the end of a song or the end of a major section of a song.

The two numbers at the beginning of a piece of music are called the time signature:

c2/4 time signature

The upper number of a time signature tells
how many beats are in a measure. In the example, there are two beats in each measure.

The lower number tells what kind of note has one beat. In this example, the quarter note equals one beat.

Here are some more time signatures.

3/4 time signature

4/4 time signature

In this example, there are three beats in each measure.

The lower number is still a 4, which means the quarter note equals one beat.

In this example, there are four beats in each measure.

The lower number is still a 4, which means the quarter note still equals one beat.

6/8 time signature

12/8 time signature

In this example, there are six beats in each measure.

Notice that the lower number has changed to an 8. This means the eighth note now equals one beat.

Here's a different one! In this example, there are twelve beats in each measure.

The lower number is still an 8, which means the eighth note equals one beat. Hmm, if the eighth note equals 1 beat, how much does the quarter note equal now? How much does a half note equal? __ (answer)

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

A. Write the names of these rhythm symbols:

B. How many measures are there on the staff below? ___________.

XX

C. When 2/4 is the time signature, how many beats are in a measure? ___________.

XXWhat if the time signature is 3/4? _____________.

Extra Challenge. When 2/8 is the time signature, what kind of note equals one beat? ___________.

When 3/2 is the time signature, what kind of note equals one beat? _____________.

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Check Your Answers

If an eighth note equals 1 beat, the quarter note would equal 2 beats for it is twice as long in duration. The half note would equal 4 beats ... and the whole note would equal 8 beats!_(back)

ccccA.	1. This is a barline.	2. This is a time signature (a 3/4 time signature, to be exact!)
	3. This is a double barline.	4. This is a measure.

B. There are eight measures on the staff .

C. When 2/4 is the time signature, there are 2 beats in each measure. When the time signature is 3/4, there are 3 beats in each measure.

Extra Challenge. When 2/8 is the time signature, an eighth note equals one beat. When 3/2 is the time signature, the half note equals one beat.

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