Counting Rhythms with Quarter, Half, and Whole Notes

Next, we have an example written in 4/4 time (combining different rhythmic values), and we'll see how to “count our way” through it.

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Notice the counting under the staff. We have one number (equal to one beat) under each quarter note, two numbers (equal to two beats) under each half note, and four numbers (equal to four beats) under each whole note.

Listen to track 1, and try to play these rhythms while counting along. Notice that there is one count-off measure on the recording before the music starts—four clicks to let you know the tempo, and where to come in.

The sum of all the rhythmic values in each measure has to add up to the time signature (in this case four beats). For example, in the third measure above, we have two quarter notes (1 beat each), and one half note (2 beats): 1 + 1 + 2 = 4 beats total, so we're OK.