Berklee Music Theory, Book 1

Lesson 7. Rhythmic Notation Guidelines

The same rhythm can be written in different ways. Always try to use the simplest way
so the notation is easy to read. Here are some basic guidelines.
Guideline 1: It is usually better to use one note or rest of longer duration than to tie
together two or more smaller values.
Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct

Ó Ó j
œ œ ˙ œ œ ‰ Ó œ. ‰ Ó
Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct

œ Œ Œ Œ œ Œ Ó Œ œ ˙ Œ ˙.

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Guideline 2: Think of each 4 measure as being divided into two halves, between beats
2 and 3. Complete each side of the measure, keeping the third beat visible.
Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct

œ Ó Œ œ Œ Ó œ. Œ œ. œ. ‰ ‰ œ.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Guideline 3: Only half notes or larger can be written over the imaginary line between
beats 2 and 3—and only if they begin on the beat.
On beat 1 On beat 2 On beat 2

˙. œ œ ˙. Œ ˙.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

This rule does not apply to rest values.

Incorrect Correct

œ Ó œ œ Œ Œ œ

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 Lesson 7. Rhythmic Notation Guidelines

The examples below do not begin “on the beat” and are considered incorrect. The correct notation
keeps the same durational values but is written so as to show the third beat.

Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct

‰ ˙. ‰ ‰ œ. œ. œ
j Œ ‰˙ ‰ Œ ‰ œj œ . ‰
Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct
j j j j j j j
œ. œ. œ œ. œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Practice
1. Rewrite these rhythms, correcting notation errors.

j j j j
œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ‰ ‰ œ Œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙

j j
Œ Ó œ œ œ Ó œ ‰ ˙ œ. ˙ ˙

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