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Rhythmic

Notation

Charts

Rhythmic Notation

The simplest way to make sense of the relationship between note values is to hear them. Probably the most commonly used note value for establishing a pulse is the quarter note. Let's hear what a quarter note pulse sounds like:

Since the snare drum produces such a short sound, it cannot express the full duration of each quarter note. Let's hear that full duration as played by the trumpet:

As you can see in the "Relative Note Values" chart above, a quarter note can be subdivided into two eighth notes. Let's listen to what a series of eighth notes sounds like:

Similarly, an eighth note can be subdivided into two sixteenth notes. Let's listen to a series of sixteenth notes:

As you can see, beats work the same as fractions. As we know, the fraction 1/4 equals 2/8, 4/16 or 8/32. Similarly, a quarter note beat can be subdivided into two 8th notes, four 16th notes or eight 32nd notes.