In lesson 2 we’ll look at 1/8 notes or quavers as we call them. The chart is again in 4/4 which means there is the equivalent of 4 quarter notes per bar. Remember a whole note is worth 4 quarter notes and a ½ note is worth 2 quarter notes.


So taking a look at eighth notes we are now dividing the notes up even further. Just the same as we can divide a half up into two 1/4’s we can also divide 1/4’s up into 2 eighths or quavers. So for every quarter note (1/4) we can play, in the same amount of time ... 2 quarter notes. Just the same as how we can play 2 quarter notes in the same amount of time it takes to play one half note.


If I am counting to 4 at 60bpm (beats per minute) or playing four quarter notes, you could have played 8 eighth (1/8) notes in the same amount of time. The way we count eighth notes is 1& 2& 3& 4& (1and 2and 3and 4and) or you might see it written as 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ and be sure to count out reasonably loud while you get used to playing eighth notes.


Listen to the chart with and without the metronome playing. From bar 17 quarter notes are added and then from bar 49 quarter note rests are also added.


Go here for the Myriad Music Plug-in, in some cases you may have to restart your computer.


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