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Here are some audio lessons on understanding basic notation. Replay as often as you want.


(Please e-mail any lesson requests to Dan@DannyBritt.com!)



Understanding Quarter Notes, Eighth Notes and 16th Notes



(1) Quarter Notes

Four Quarter Notes fit into a measure of 4/4 and is known as the downbeat or pulse! We count it "1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4"

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(2) Eighth Notes

An Eighth Notes is half the value of a Quarter Note - it takes up half of a beat in 4/4. We can fit twice as many 8th Notes into a measure as Quarter Notes

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(3) Eighth Notes & an Eighth Rest

Eighth Rests takes up the same amount of time as an Eighth Notes, but we are not playing

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(4) Combining Quarter Notes & 8th Notes

Combining 2 Beats of Quarter Notes with 2 Beats of 8ths Notes

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(5) Combining Quarter Notes & 8ths Notes, Part II

Combinging them one beat at a time

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(6) Sixteenth Notes

We can fit twice as many 16th Notes in a measure as 8th Notes. We count 16th notes "1, e, &, a, 2, e, &, a, 3, e, &, a, 4, e, &, a"

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(7) Quarter Notes & Sixteenth Notes

We are playing 2 Beats of Quarter Notes and 2 Beats of 16th Notes

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(8)Quarter Notes & Sixteenth Notes

We are playing switching from Quarter Notes to 16ths every beat

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(9)Eighth Notes & Sixteenth Notes

2 Beats of Eighths Notes and 2 Beats of Sixteenth Notes

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(10) Eighth Notes & Sixteenth Notes, Part II

Switching every beat from Eighths to Sixteenths

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(11) Combining Quarter Notes, 8ths Notes and 16th Notes

A Rhythmic Pyramid: One measure of each

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See Notation (PDF File)



(12) Combining Quarters, 8ths and 16ths, Part II

Various patterns between them.

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Two more exercises to be added soon! Please e-mail any requests to Dan@DannyBritt.com!


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