Lesson 6: Reading Notation and Rhythm
- Name the notes you play on the staff, up to D5.
- Name the notes you play on the staff, up to G5.
- Keep one beat as whole, half, quarter and eighth notes change.
A note’s height shows its pitch; its shape, stem and flags show its length.
The staff
The staff has five lines; count up from the bottom. With a treble clef, lines name E·G·B·D·F and spaces F·A·C·E.
Your notes, C4 to D5, run from one ledger line below the staff to the fourth line.
Your notes run from F4, the bottom space, to G5, just above the staff.
Note durations
In 4/4 time:
- Whole note
- Four beats; open, stemless: ta-a-a-a.
- Half note
- Two beats; open, stemmed: ta-a.
- Quarter note
- One beat; filled, stemmed: ta.
- Eighth note
- Half a beat; flagged or beamed: ti-ti.
Clap and count the rhythm first, then name the notes and play.
Play: Lightly Row — complete first voice
Read two bars at a time, then join them.
Source: Steven G. Johnson (2018), CC BY 4.0; first duet voice, down M2 for soprano; alto C major. Second voice omitted.
Now play these
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
- Read it off the staff this time.
- Hot Cross Buns — source version
- Fit two eighth notes into each beat; keep each rest silent.
- Rain, Rain, Go Away
- E, G and A, with running eighth notes.
- A, C and D on your alto staff, with running eighth notes.
When the drill’s four durations and Lightly Row’s long notes stay steady, try Lesson 7.