Note Values and Rests: How Long Does Each Note Last?

In our last post, Note Heads Made Easy, we learnt how to draw note heads on the lines and spaces of the stave. Now we give those note heads a job.

Every piece of music is made of two things: sounds and silences. A note tells us to make a sound, and a rest tells us to be silent. Both tell us something very important: how long. In this lesson we learn how long each note and rest lasts, how to write them, and then we play, clap and count them.

Press Play on any note below to hear it, and count along with the beat bar at the top of the lesson.