Warning: In this section, you will only learn the rhythms and measures needed in the first volume of my guitar course.

Introduction

You will begin your rhythm training in an original way, by appealing to the less theoretical or intellectual data. Certain rhythms will be even approached through examples drawn from popular songs which prove to be excellent mnemonic supports (who has never heard “Twinkle little star”, “Jingle Bells” or “Happy birthday”…?)

Definition of rhythm

Rhythm is something relative. The duration of the notes exists only compared to one basic pulsation which one calls the beat (or tempo). This flow can be of various degrees speed or slowness, but it is ALWAYS regular (example: tick-tock of a watch, beats of a metronome, etc.)
It is essential to get in oneself the feeling of the tempo BEFORE starting a rhythm exercise or one of the pieces in this guitar course. In this connection, have you already observed musicians on stage? Before starting to play, one of them always gives the tempo by counting one or two empty measures (lead in) so that all have the same feel of the tempo.

Representations of the durations

Definition of measures

A measure (or a bar) is the division of a piece of music into parts of equal durations whose limits are indicated by the measure lines (see figure II).
Note: in this guitar course you will approach only simple measures notation (where each time is made of a simple value, i.e. being divisible by two).

Time Signatures

The measure length of a piece of music is indicated using time signature: the higher figure (X) indicates the number of counts (pulsations, time) per measure, the lower figure (Y) the count value. Below you will find the table of the time signatures used in this guitar course (figure III).

Associated Signs

You should know certain signs to read the music and the rhythm correctly.

• The repetition sign indicates that it is necessary to play the previous measure (see figure IV).
• The repeat point indicates that the part of the piece lain between the two symbols should be played again. If the left sign is absent, then it is necessary to replay from the beginning of the piece (see figure V).
• The tie. When this sign connects two or more notes of the same pitch, then the whole note forms a new sound whose value is equal to the sum of the dependent durations (see figure VI).
• The dot, placed behind a note, increases this one by half of its initial value (see figure VII).

Rests representation

A rest means that you stop playing for a moment. In the table below you will find (figure VIII) the names, symbols and respective durations of each rest.