Part 7: Rests

What is a rest?

A rest indicates that you should be silent and not play.

Just like notes, rests can have different lengths. The shape of the rest shows how long you should be silent.

Whole rest

The whole rest looks like a filled rectangle hanging below a line in the staff.

The whole rest corresponds to a whole note - that is, silence for 4 beats.

Half rest

The half rest looks almost the same as the whole rest, but sits on top of a line instead.

The half rest corresponds to a half note - that is, silence for 2 beats.

Remember: Think of the whole rest as heavy, so it hangs below the line. The half rest sits on top.

Quarter rest

The quarter rest looks a bit different - somewhat like a lightning bolt.

The quarter rest corresponds to a quarter note - that is, silence for 1 beat.

Eighth rest

The eighth rest looks a bit like a seven with a hook.

The eighth rest corresponds to an eighth note - that is, silence for half a beat.

Sixteenth rest

The sixteenth rest looks like the eighth rest, but has two hooks instead of one.

The sixteenth rest corresponds to a sixteenth note - that is, silence for a quarter of a beat.

Compare notes and rests

Every note has a corresponding rest with the same value. Here you can see them all side by side:

Note			Rest
Whole note			Whole rest
Half note			Half rest
Quarter note			Quarter rest
Eighth note			Eighth rest
Sixteenth note			Sixteenth rest

Can you hear the rest?

Press "Listen" and follow along. First you will hear four quarter notes. Then you will hear the same example again, but one of the notes has been replaced by a rest.

Which rest do you think it is?

Well done!

Now you know that a rest indicates when you should be silent and that each rest has its own value - just like the notes.