2. 3 READ: Rest

A rest stands for a silence in music. For each kind of note,  there is a written rest of the same length.

The most common rests

figure 2. 3. a

 

Rest Value Chart

figure 2. 3. b

 

Rests don't necessarily mean that there is silence in the music at that point; only that that part is silent. Often, on a staff with multiple parts, a rest must be used as a placeholder for one of the parts, even if a single person is playing both parts. When the rhythms are complex, this is necessary to make the rhythm in each part clear.

 

figure 2. 3. c

 

Rest Pyramid

figure 2. 3. d