What are the Music Rhythm Symbols?

There are basically 3 categories of music rhythm symbols.

      1) The Notes
      2) The Rests
      3) The Time Signatures

This page focuses on what these symbols are, how many counts the symbols get, and how to use them in context. If you're not really sure what all this rhythm stuff is, check out the what is rhythm page first. Now onto the symbols. 

The Notes

First we'll start with the notes. Each note is written a specific way to let you know how long to hold it. Think of it in terms of a drum beat. Each beat of the drum is a count. You need to hold certain notes down for certain amounts of counts. 

Whole Note

Dotted Half Note

Half Note

Dotted Quarter Note

Quarter Note

Eighth Note

Sixteenth Note

32nd Note

4

3

2

1 1/2

1

1/2

1/4

1/8

The Rests

The next of the music rhythm symbols are rests. Rests are the places where you don't play or hold a note. They are places of silence. Here
they are:

Type of Rest   

Whole Rest 

Half Rest

Quarter Rest 

8th Rest 

16th Rest

Picture   

Number of Counts

4

2

1

1/2

1/4