Introducing Sixteenth Notes

The sixteenth note lasts for a quarter of a beat and is written with a black (or “filled in”) notehead, a long stem attached, and either a double “flag” if the note is by itself, or a double beam if the note is joined to other notes. Sometimes the beams may join a pair of sixteenth notes together, or the beams may join all of the sixteenth notes within one beat.

Now that we're dividing the beat into 4 pieces, we need a different counting method. This new addition to our rhythmic counting includes the three symbols “e,” “&,” and “a” between each of the beat numbers:

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Listen to track 15 and play the above sixteenth-note rhythm pattern while counting aloud. Now there are four notes for every metronome click. Try to space the notes as evenly as possible between the downbeats.

Just a minute ago we talked about combining sixteenth notes with dotted eighth notes. Here's a melody that does just that:

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Listen to track 16 and play this dotted-eighth–sixteenth-note rhythm pattern and melody while using the right hand C Position, counting along.

It's good practice to count all of the sixteenth notes (1 e & a 2 e & a, etc.) in this example as you play it, even though you are not playing on all of these rhythmic subdivisions. This way, everything will be evenly spaced, and when a sixteenth note comes along (i.e., the D in the first measure) you'll be ready for it!

Next, we'll get acquainted with the sixteenth rest, which as you might expect, lasts for a quarter of a beat:

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This rest looks like the eighth rest, except that it has two flags instead of one.

Finally, in this chapter, we'll look at a melody that combines quarter notes and quarter rests, eighth notes and eighth rests, and sixteenth notes and sixteenth rests:

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Note the counting under the staff and the new sixteenth rests (each lasting for a quarter of a beat) in both measures.

Listen to track 17 and play the example while counting along. As before, make sure that you don't play during the rests. Have fun!