Time Signatures

Written music begins with a time signature and is written as two numbers, one on top of another. The top number determines how many beats there are in one bar and the bottom number determines the time value of each beat.

4

4 

2

2

3

4

If the pulse of a piece of music is not felt as a single beat but instead as groups of three beats it is said to be in compound time.

For example 2/4 time played in groups of threes each of the two beats in a bar of 2/4 is divided into three beats. This now produces 6 beats to a bar and the time signatures that describe this are 6/4 and 6/8.
Also 3/4 time played in 3 groups of threes becomes 9/4 or 9/8.

4/4 time played in four groups of threes becomes 12/4 or 12/8.

These groups of three beats are called triplets.

6

4

Six beats per bar and each beat is one quarter note.

1 2 3 1 2 3

6

8
	

1 2 3 1 2 3

9

8

Nine beats per bar and each beat is one eighth note.

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

12

8

Twelve beats per bar and each beat is one eighth note.

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Rhythm is essential to all music and the rhythm of a piece of music is set by the rhythm section of the band. The rhythm section is made up of drums, bass, piano & rhythm guitar and the rhythm guitar has a major part to play in maintaining regular rhythm throughout a piece of music.

Acoustic & electric guitars can play the same type of rhythm but generally the electric guitar tends to play different chord shapes usually using all four octaves.

Important aspects of rhythm guitar play, involve:

Dynamics using accents, volume, speed & intensity.

Dynamics are centred on the way the rhythm guitar plays during a piece of music. For instance, the rhythm guitar can make use of accents, where a certain beat or chord is played louder or stopped suddenly. The volume of the rhythm guitar can also be played louder and softer as required; louder during introductions & instrumentals. The speed & intensity of the rhythm guitar can also have an impact on a song, e.g. slower & lighter for a verse & bridge, then faster & more intensive for a chorus or instrumental.

Note names

Semibreve             1  note  last 4 beats

Minim                 2  notes last 4 beats

Crotchet              4  notes last 4 beats

Quaver                8  notes last 4 beats

Semiquaver            16 notes last 4 beats

Demisemiquaver        32 notes last 4 beats

Hemidemisemiquaver    64 notes last 4 beats

Semibreve

You would play a note or a chord & count for 4 beats then stop the note.

So you would play then count:

1 2 3 4

Minim

You would play a note or a chord & count for 2 beats then stop the note.

So in this example you play a note or chord then count for 2 beats then play the note or chord again & count another two beats.

1 2 3 4

Crotchet

You would play a note or a chord & count for 1 beat then stop the note.

In this example play and stop the note on each count from 1 2 3 4.

1 2 3 4

Quaver

You would play a note or a chord & count for 1/2 beat then stop the note.

This example means that you play 8 notes over the count of 4 beats.

So you could count:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Semi Quaver

You would play a note or a chord & count for 1/4 beat then stop the note.

This example would mean that you play 16 notes over the time it takes to count 1 2 3 4.

So you could count:

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a

Demi Semi Quaver

Hemi Demi Semi Quaver

Rhythm Exercises

In the following rhythm exercises for guitar start learning the rhythms using a down stroke on the guitar for notes played on 1 2 3 or 4, & play an up stroke on the e + a beats. N/C means no chord, here you stop the strings from ringing.

Rhythm Exercise 1


1	        2	        3	        4

Em	        Em	        Em	        Em




Rhythm Exercise 2


1	        2	        3	        4	&

Em	        Em	        Em	        Em	Em




Rhythm Exercise 3


1	        2	        3	        4	&

Am	        Am	        Am	        Am	Am




Rhythm Exercise 4


1	        2	&	3	        4	&

Em	        Em	Em	Em	        Em	Em




Rhythm Exercise 5 – Place the accent on beat 3


1	&	2	&	3	        4	&

Em	Em	Em	Em	Em	        Em	Em




Rhythm Exercise 6 – Place the accent on the up strokes


1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&

Em	Em	Em	Em	Em	Em	Em	Em




Rhythm Exercise 7  


1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&

Em	N/C	Em	Em	N/C	Em	N/C	Em




Rhythm Exercise 8


1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&

N/C	Am	Am	Am	N/C	Am	Am	N/C




Rhythm Exercise 9 - Gospel


1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&

N/C	G	N/C	G	N/C	G	N/C	G




Rhythm Exercise 10 - Gospel


1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&

N/C	C	N/C	C	N/C	C	N/C	C




Rhythm Exercise 11 - Gospel


1	&	2	&	3	&	4	&

N/C	D7	N/C	D7	N/C	D7	N/C	D7




Rhythm Exercise 12 - Reggae


1       &   a   2       &   a   3       &   a   4       &   a

        Em  Em          Em  Em          Em  Em          Em  Em




Rhythm Exercise 13 - Reggae


1       &   a   2       &   a   3       &   a   4       &   a

        Am  Am          Em  Em          Am  Am          Em  Em

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of Music Maker Guitar Lessons.
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