1. Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 1

2. Right now, “counting” is going to mean only writing in your counts.
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 2
“Counting” refers to either writing out the counts for a measure, or saying the counting out loud. Learning to write in the counting is very different than learning to say it out loud.
Right now, “counting” is going to mean only writing in your counts.

3. Always write out where each beat is in the measure.
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 3
COUNTING RULE #1
Always write out where each beat is in the measure.
The top number in the time signature shows there are 4 beats in the measure so you know for sure that you will be writing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 somewhere. 4 4 1 2 3 4

4. Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 4
The bottom number in the time signature shows that each beat is 1 quarter note long. As you analyze a measure of music, begin to identify which notes fall within each beat. 4 4 1 2 3 4

5. 4 4 Counting Rhythm COUNTING RULE #2
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 5
COUNTING RULE #2
The first note or rest in the measure is always labeled as count 1.
The only exception is if the piece begins with a pick-up measure. 4 4 1 2 3 4

6. 4 4 Counting Rhythm COUNTING RULE #3
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 6
COUNTING RULE #3
A note and rest of equal value are counted the same. They are interchangeable. 4 4 1 2 3 4

7. < < 4 4 Counting Rhythm COUNTING RULE #4
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 7
COUNTING RULE #4
Ignore all articulation markings and ties; they do not affect your labeling.
<
< 4 4

8. 4 4 Counting Rhythm COUNTING RULE #5
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 8
COUNTING RULE #5
If the measure does not contain 8th or 16th notes/rests, you only need to write in the beats. 4 4 1 2 3 4
Recall the duration of each note (or rest). When you label, line up your numbers with the notes. If a note fills the whole beat, move on to the next number. If a note takes up more than a beat, write the next beat so that it looks evenly spaced from the others.

9. This is another example of a measure with no 8th or 16th notes.
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 9
This is another example of a measure with no 8th or 16th notes. 4 4 1 2 3 4

10. 4 4 Counting Rhythm COUNTING RULE #6
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 10
COUNTING RULE #6
If the measure contains any 8th notes (or rests) write in all “&” counts. 4 4 1
&
& 2
&
& 3
&
& 4
&
&
Write in the numbers, lining them up with the start of each beat. Since there are 8th notes, write in every “&” count.

11. Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 11
Another example of a measure with 8th notes. Imagine the visual length of each note. 4 4 1
& 2
& 3
& 4
&
For each note, recall how many 8th notes it is equal to. Then place a number or “&” in order from left to right. Remember, that your numbers and “&” counts will always alternate and that you will have 4 of each.

12. Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 12
Remember that you can replace any note with its rest of the same value, and the counting stays the same. 4 4 1
& 2
& 3
& 4
&

13. Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 13
Another example where the shortest duration is an 8th rest. First, picture how long each note is. Remember that whatever is first in the measure is counted as 1. 4 4 1
& 2
& 3
& 4
&
The 8th rest on count 1 causes each quarter note to begin on “&” counts. This may look odd since we usually think of quarter notes starting on the beat.

14. An example using all 8th notes or rests.
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 14
An example using all 8th notes or rests. 4 4 1
& 2
& 3
& 4
&
If you have a measure of only 8th notes and rests, then there are 8 objects, each worth 1/8th of the measure. You simply label every object alternating between numbers and “&” counts in order from left to right.

15. 4 4 Counting Rhythm COUNTING RULE #7
Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 15
COUNTING RULE #7
If a beat includes a 16th note, write in all the 16th note counts (beat number, e, &, a) for that beat.
These are the eighth notes and rest (single flag/beam).
These are the sixteenth notes (two beams). 4 4 1 e
& a 2
& 3
& 4 e
& a
Recall that a beat can be broken into 2 8thnotes or 4 16th notes, or 1 8th note and 2 16th notes. Get a visual sense of which notes are grouped onto each beat. The beaming will help you see this. A 16th note is almost always beamed to another 16th note or an 8th note.

16. Music Theory
Counting Rhythm 16
Another example using the dotted eighth-sixteenth rhythm.
These are the sixteenth notes (two beams).
These are the eighth notes and rests (single flag/beam). 4 4 1 e
& a 2
& 3 e
& a 4 e
& a
Look at the beaming to help identify which notes fall within each beat. If a beat includes a 16th note, write in all the 16th note counts (beat number, e, &, a).

17. Note and Rest Durations
Music Theory
Note and Rest Durations 17