How to Count Music

Counting Rhythms

1. 
   Understand what a measure is. Music is divided into measures, which are designated by a vertical line. Notes in music are named based on how much time they take up within a measure. Think of the measure as a pie that can be cut into quarters, halves, eighths, or a combination of different notes.^[1]
2. 
   Learn basic notation. In a 4/4 time signature, the names of the notes clue you in to how much of the measure they will take. This will necessitate a rudimentary understanding of fractions. A whole note will take the whole measure. A half note will take half of the measure. From there, you can figure out that:

   1. Quarter notes take a quarter of the measure.
   2. Eighth notes take one eighth of the measure.
   3. Sixteenth notes take one sixteenth of the measure.
   4. Notes can be combined to make one whole. For instance, 1 half note and 2 quarter notes makes 1 whole measure.
3. 
   Practice keeping the beat. In an even rhythm, tap your heel and count to 4 repeatedly, like this: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4. The speed is less important than keeping the time even between each number. A metronome can also be helpful in setting an even beat.

   1. Each full cycle of 1-2-3-4 is 1 measure.
4. 
   Practice counting basic note lengths. Say or sing 'la' while continuing to keep up the counting in your head. A whole note will take the whole measure, so begin singing 'la' at the number 1, and hold it until you have reached 4. You have just performed a whole note.

   1. 2 half notes make up a measure. Sing 'la' for 1-2 then a new 'la' for 3-4.
   2. There are 4 quarter notes in a measure. Sing 'la' for each number you're tapping.
5. 
   Add syllables for smaller notes. For eighth notes, you will need to divide the measure into 8 even pieces, but you are still only beating 4 times per measure. Add the word 'and' between each number as you count like this: '1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and.' Practice this until it becomes easy. Each word is 1 eighth note.

   1. Use a similar principle to count sixteenth notes. You will need to fit 16 sounds into 1 measure and do it evenly. One common way to do this is to say '1-e-and-a, 2-e-and-a, 3-e-and-a, 4-e-and-a.' Remember that the numbers should still be played and sung perfectly evenly.^[2]
   2. The same general idea can be applied to even smaller notes, but as these notes appear rarely, they are less important to master as a beginner.
6. 
   Understand what a dot means. Sometimes in music there is a small dot immediately after a note. This dot indicates that the note's length should be increased by 50%.

   1. A half note, normally worth 2 beats, becomes 3 beats with a dot.
   2. A quarter note, worth 1 beat without the dot, takes 1.5 beats with a dot.
7. 
   Practice triplets. Triplets are when 1 beat is divided into 3 notes. This is tricky because otherwise all the notes you have practiced are even fractions. Vocalizing syllables can help you get the hang of triplets.

   1. Practice counting triplets by saying '1-e-and, 2-e-and, 3-e-and, 4-e-and.
   2. Remember to continue keeping the numbers even using a metronome or tapping your foot.
8. 
   Break the rules. A fermata is a sign that looks like a dot with an eyebrow over a note. When you see this symbol, it means that note can be held for as long as you like, regardless of what the music might say.

   1. If you are part of an ensemble, the director will determine how long it should be held.
   2. If you are performing solo, consider in advance what will be most appropriate length.
   3. Listen to recordings of your piece if you are uncertain how long to hold. This will give you a sense of what other performers have done and you can decide what sounds best.