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CHAPTER 1
RHYTHM

MUSICAL SYMBOLS
AND CONCEPTS

CONTENT STANDARDS:

The learner demonstrates understanding of the concept of rhythm by applying notes

and rests, rhythmic patterns, and time signatures.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
The learner responds to beats in music heard with appropriate conducting patterns of :

@, #, $ and P.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
The learner..

 identifies the notes/ rests used in a particular song

 differentiates among @, #, $ and P time signatures
 demonstrates the conducting gestures of @, #, $ and P time signatures
 identifies through conducting the relationship of the first and last measure in an
incomplete measure
 creates different rhythmic patterns using notes and rests @, #, $ and P time
signatures

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q LESSON 1

NOTES AND RESTS

Writing music is a wonderful experience. You can express your ideas and feelings
through songs. However, before you can write your own song, you must first learn the notes
and rests in music. These musical symbols represent sound and silences in a musical
composition.

In this lesson, you will learn more about musical notes and rests.

Musical instruments like the sound of drums give music its rhythm. Rhythm is the
regular flow of music in time. It is expressed through the notes and rests in a musical piece.
It will be interesting to know how these notes related to rests, beats or values in terms of
music.

Rhythm is the “life or music” because rhythm is the “heartbeat of music”. Rhythm
can exist without melody but melody cannot exist without rhythm.

A note is a musical symbol that represents a sound. This means that when you sing a
song, you have to follow the notes written in the musical piece to produce the right sounds.
Each note has a corresponding beat. The longer a note is sounded or the longer a rest is held,
the more beats the note or rest should receive.

A note is composed of three parts, namely, the stem, the hook (also called flag or
tail), and the head. The head may be shaded or unshaded. A note also may not have a stem
and a hook or flag or tail. Study the illustration.

KINDS OF NOTES
A rest

w
is a Name Symbol Time Value
whole note 4

half note
h 2

quarter note
q 1

eighth note
e ½

sixteenth note
s ¼

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musical symbol that represents silence. The duration of rest depends upon the time value just
like the note. If the musician, singer or whoever uses the musical score and happened to see
rest, it is necessary to stop or pause. It does not signify that the song is over.
Now, the advantage of using rest in music is for the singers to breath also. Good
breathing is very fundamental in singing. Singers typically rehearse more just to have a well-
disciplined breathing. In other way, rest is not just set anywhere, it is made artistically by the
composers.

KINDS OF RESTS

Name Symbol Time Value

whole rest 4

half rest 2

quarter rest 1

eighth rest ½

sixteenth rest ¼

DOTTED NOTES AND RESTS

Name Symbol (Notes) Symbol (Rests) Time Value

.
dotted whole note 6

dotted half note 3

dotted quarter
1½
note

dotted eighth note ¾

The value of notes and rests will change if a dot is placed after it. To get the value
just add half of the value of the affected note/rest. This means that you have to play or sing
the dotted notes longer than the original way the note is intended to be sung or played.

Example: (4) + (2) = (6)

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Study the dotted notes below.

DOTTED WHOLE NOTE DOTTED QUARTER NOTE

R=w+h=hhh
j= q+ e = eee
DOTTED HALF NOTE DOTTED EIGHTH NOTE

d= h + q = i= e+s = sss

qqq

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ACTIVITIES

NOTES AND RESTS

ACTIVITY 1

A. Get the total time value of the set of notes and rests. Write your answer on the line
provided before each number.

Example: 4 1.
( 2 + 2 )

_______ 1.

_______ 2.

_______ 3.

_______ 4.

_______ 5.

_______ 6.

_______ 7.

ACTIVITY 2

A. Draw the equivalent note or rest for each of the given notes and rests. Put your answer in
the box provided.

Example: s ; s
1. 5.

2. 6.

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3. 7.

4. 8.

ACTIVITY 3
A. Draw one note which is equivalent to each given group of notes and rests on the line
before each number.

Example: ______
4 = 2 + 2

__________ 1. __________ 4.

__________ 2. __________ 5.

__________ 3.

B. Draw one rest which is equivalent to each given group of notes and rests on the line
before each number.

Example: _______
1 = ½ +½

__________ 1. __________ 4.

__________ 2. __________ 5.

__________ 3.

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DOTTED NOTES AND RESTS

ACTIVITY 1

A. Get the total time value of the set of dotted notes and rests. Write your answer on the line
provided before each number.

Example: 6 1.
3 + 3

_______ 1.

_______ 2.

_______ 3.

_______ 4.

_______ 5.
ACTIVITY 2

A. Draw the equivalent dotted note or rest for each of the given notes and rests. Put your
answer in the box provided.

Example:
½ + 1
1½

1. 6.

2. 7.

3. 8.

4. 9.

5. 10.

q LESSON 2

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METERS
Our lives are full of actions. Everywhere we go, you see people and things in action
often with repeated or regular movements. These movements usually follow a rhythm.
Actions such as running, jogging, walking and even breathing have rhythm. We can also see
rhythm and felt in the movements of animals, the swaying of leaves to the wind, and the
movements of cars and even in our watches or clocks.

In music, rhythm also signifies movements and these movements can be counted by
twos, threes, and fours. These are arranged in “Meters”.

In this lesson, we will learn more about meter.

Meter refers to the repetitive arrangement of strong and weak beats in a musical
composition. The word meter comes from the Greek word metron, which means “measure.”
Meter is indicated by “time signatures”. The time signature is written with two numbers one
above the other and it is written at the beginning of the measure. This indicates the
groupings of notes.

Measure is the space between two bar lines. It is the space on a musical staff where
you put or arrange notes and rests based on the given time signature.

Meters in music are grouped into two called duple, in threes called triple, and in fours
called quadruple. Meters can be determined by giving emphasis on the first beat of every
measure. The strong beat or the accented beat is usually found at the start of each measure
and this signals the first beat of a measure.

1. Duple Meter
This meter has a constant pattern of an accented beat (strong beat) followed by an
unaccented beat(weak beat). A duple meter consists two beats in measure.
› › › › Symbol for accent

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

Example:

qq ’ q Q ’ h
> > >

[1 Meter
2. Triple 2 1 2 12

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This meter has a constant pattern of an accented beat followed by two unaccented
beats. A triple meter consists three beats to a measure.

› › › ›

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

Example:
> > >

qqee ’ qq Q ’ qh [
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 23

3. Quadruple Meter
This meter has a constant pattern of an accented beat followed by three weak beats.
A quadruple meter consists four beats to a measure.

› › ›

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Example:

> > >

qqeeQ ’ qqq Q ’ qqh

[ 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 34

Reminder:

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q LESSON 3

SIMPLE TIME SIGNATURE

Time signature is a fraction-like number written at the beginning of a musical

composition. The upper number tells the number of beats in a measure. The lower number
tells the kind of note or rest that receive one beat.

# tells the number of beats in a measure – which is 3

tells the kind of note or rest that receives one beat – which is

@ Time Signature
In @ time signature, there are 2 beats in a measure. The lower number (4) tells that
the note/rest that receives one beat is a quarter note/quarter rest. The accented or strong beat
is found on the first beat of each measure

The picture below is the conducting pattern of @ time signature.

1 2
1
1111111

# Time Signature

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In # time signature, there are 3 beats in a measure. The lower number (4) tells
that the note/rest that receives one beat is a quarter note/quarter rest. The accented or
strong beat is found on the first beat of each measure

1 2 3 1 2 3

The picture below is the conducting pattern of # time signature.

1 3

$ Time Signature
In $ time signature, there are 4 beats in a measure. The lower number (4) tells that
the note/rest that receives one beat is a quarter note/quarter rest. The accented or strong beat
is found on the first beat of each measure. This time signature is also known as the common
time signature. Sometimes the symbol
the said time signature.
c is placed at the beginning of a staff to represent

The picture below is the conducting pattern of $ time signature.

1 4
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2
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P Time Signature
The P time signature is a compound meter. A time signature is compound if the
number above is greater than three. The lower number (8) indicates that “eighth note (e)
gets one beat and the upper number(6) tells that there are 6 counts in a measure.
The accented or strong beat is found on the first beat of each measure.

P - 6 counts in a measure
- eighth note ( e) gets 1 count
&=6==G==G==G==G==G
==G==! 1 2 3 4 5 6 12 34 5 6
The picture below is the conducting pattern of P time signature.

1 6

5
2
4
3

Study the table below.

For P time signature ….

note rest value

=
w W 8

h H 4

q Q 2

e E 1

s S ½

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q LESSON 4

RHYTHMIC PATTERN

A tailor or dressmaker follows a certain pattern to have an idea of the outcome of

his/her work. An architect makes the design and an engineer does the plan which serves as
the pattern for the construction of a house or building.

In music, there is also a pattern in rhythm. It is called the rhythmic pattern.

Rhythmic pattern is the combination of notes and rests in a measure of a given time
signature. Rhythmic pattern defferentiates various types of music from each other.

To create a rhythmic pattern, you need to combine different notes and rests in one or
measures based on a given time signature.

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Below are examples of rhythmic patterns. Study the combinations of the notes and
rests and try to clap them by following the counting(one note is to one clap).

Example:

1. @ qq ’ h ’
1 2 1 2

2. # qqq ’ h q ’
1 2 3 1 2 3

3. $ q q q ee ’ h ee Q ’
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

4. @ eeee ’ q e E ’h
1 2 1 2 1 2

’ PqeEeeeeee ’ q
5. eE q ’h q
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1234 5 6

’ qeE

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ACTIVITIES

Activity 1

A. Identify the pitch name of each note. Write your answer on the line provided.

&=d=|==j==|==a==|==g==|==q==|==r==|
==m==|==t==|
1.____ 2.____ 3.____ 4.____ 5.____ 6.____ 7.____ 8.____

&=s==|==h==|==w==|==f==|==y==|
==e==|==n==|==u==|
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9.____ 10.____ 11.____ 12.____ 13.____ 14.____ 15.____ 16.____
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B. Draw a whole note below the given so-fa syllable in its correct place on the staff.
(one note in every measure)

&===|=====|=====|=====|
1. re 2. fa 3. la 4. mi 5. do 6. so 7. ti

=====|=====|=====|

q LESSON 2

INTERVALS
Notes move on the staff. This is also the reason why we can hear high and low tones
in a song. Composers arrange notes with corresponding distances either on the line or space
on the staff to indicate high and low pitches. The distance between two notes or pitches is
called interval. To get the interval, count the number of lines and spaces from the first note
to the next note.

There are two kinds of interval. They are:

1. Melodic – Two notes are sounded one after

& the other. The notes are written in horizontal

manner.

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2. Harmonic – Two notes are sounded together. The notes are written in a vertical
&
direction.

In determining the interval between two tones, count every line and space starting
from the lower note going to the next note. Count the bottom note as number one. See how
these intervals are counted.

6 6
5 5
34 3 4
2 2
1 1
ACTIVITIES
6th(harmonic) 6th (melodic)

Activity 1

Identify the interval of each pair of notes on the staff. Write your answer on the line
provided.

1. ___________ 6. __________

2. ___________ 7. __________

3. ___________ 8. __________

4. ___________ 9. __________

5. ___________ 10. ________

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Activity 2
Draw a pair of whole note on the staff based on the given interval.

&=g===|
&=r===|
A. Harmonic interval ( first note in each measure is always G 2nd line)
G
Example:

&====|=======|=======|=======|
7 th

=======|=======|=======||
1. 2nd 2. 4th 3. 6th 4. octave 5. unison 6. 5 th 7. 3rd

&g==j===|
B. Melodic interval (first note in each measure is always G 2nd line)

Example: G

&====|=======|======|=======| 3rd

======|=======|======||
1. unison 2. 4th 3. 6th 4. octave 5. 7th 6. 5th 7. 2nd

Activity 3

Explain the difference of Melodic Interval from Harmonic Interval.

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