Symbols, Timing, and Notes Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (05:26) Review, Music Symbols, and 3/4 Timing Skills Check-up

At this point, you must have the location of all first position notes memorized. You must also be able to recognize how all of these notes are written on the staff. You should also feel comfortable with the reading exercises that Jim has presented in the past several lessons. If you do not have these concepts mastered, go back and review the past lessons.

Review of Symbols

A. Rests

In the last lesson, Jim introduced quarter note rests. Remember that these rests resemble an ear or a backwards number three. A half note rest resembles a hat sitting upon someone's head. This is easy to remember since "half" and "hat" both start with the letters "h-a." A whole rest looks like a hat that has been flipped upside down.

B. Time Signatures

4/4

The top number indicates the number of beats per measure. The bottom number indicates which note is counted as the beat. A number 4 on the bottom indicates that a quarter note receives the beat. As a result, in 4/4 time, there are four quarter notes in each measure. Other note values are usually played in addition to quarter notes. However, the sum of these rhythmic values always adds up to a total of 4 beats.

Common Time

4/4 Can also be indicated with an uppercase letter "C." The C stands for "common time." 4/4 is referred to as common time, because it is the most commonly used time signature in Western music.

3/4

3/4 is another time signature that shows up frequently in sheet music. Within this time signature, there are three quarter notes per measure. The waltz is a type of dance that is played in 3/4. Within the waltz, the first beat of each measure is stressed. The next two beats are considered to be weak beats.

At this point, you need to acquaint yourself with how it feels to count and play in these time signatures. 3/4 and 4/4 must feel equally comfortable. The only way to accomplish this goal is through diligent practice in both time signatures. As you practice in these time signatures, add a slight emphasis to the first beat of each measure. This will help internalize the feel of each signature.

C. Repeat Signs

A repeat sign is written with two vertical bar lines. One line is thicker and bolder than the other. Two dots are written in the two middle spaces of the staff where the notes A and C are written. An open repeat sign is written at the beginning of a repeated section. A closed repeat sign is written at the end of the final measure of the repeated section. The number of repetitions is often indicated above the closed repeat sign. For example, you may see something like "play 4x." When the beginning section of a piece is repeated, an open repeat sign typically isn't written. It is assumed that the piece repeats from the first measure. Chapter 2: (04:59) Eighth Notes Note Values

So far, Jim has discussed several note values. The quarter note receives one beat or a quarter of one measure in 4/4 time. A half note receives two beats or half of a 4/4 measure. A whole note receives four beats or a full measure.

The quarter note can be divided into equal parts to create shorter note values. For example, if a quarter note is divided into two equal parts, two eighth notes result. An eighth note receives half of a beat or one eighth of a measure in 4/4 time.

An eighth note looks similar to the quarter note. The note head is filled in. A stem extends from the note head. A flag or tail extends from the right side of the stem. When multiple eighth notes occur consecutively, the tails are typically beamed together. In 4/4 time you may see groups of 2 or 4 eighth notes beamed together. If a measure of 3/4 is comprised solely of eighth notes, all of them may be beamed together. Eighth notes are either beamed together or written with flags depending on which is easier to read in the context of the music. Refer to Jim's marker board for a visual representation of the various ways eighth notes can be written in 4/4 time.

Counting and Playing Eighth Notes

Count "1+2+3+4+" for a measure in 4/4 time that consists of eighth notes. A note is played on the numerals as well as the "+" symbols. The note that occurs on the numeral is referred to as a downbeat. The note that occurs on the "+" symbol is referred to as the upbeat. If you tap your foot along with the beat while playing eighth notes, a note occurs as you tap your foot. Another note occurs while your foot is in the air to prepare for the next downbeat.

Listen at 01:52 to compare how eighth notes and quarter notes sound. First, Jim plays through a one octave C major scale in quarter notes. Then, he plays through the scale in eighth notes. He picks each note in the scale twice in a steady eighth note rhythm.

Eighth Note Rests

An eighth note rest resembles a number seven. A point or ball is drawn on the upper left hand corner of the seven. Count eighth note rests the same way that you count eighth notes. Eighth note rests are never beamed together. They are always written separately. Refer to Jim's marker board for a visual representation of this rest.

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