Definition of Music Rest:

A rest is a musical symbol that marks the absence of a note. Rests are written in a measure where no note is played; and, like music notes, they are measured in length. Quarter, half, and whole rests are among the most common.*

Music rests only affect the staff in which they occur; a rest in the bass staff won’t affect the treble staff, and vice versa. However, a rest may be written in a staff full of notes if there are two planes of action – continue for a visual example:

View the Different Rest Lengths on the Staff

  • Rest names may be in U.S. or U.K. English, like notes. A U.S. whole rest is also called a U.K. “semibreve rest”; a quarter rest is also a “crotchet rest,” and so on. 

    Multilingual Synonyms:

pausa (It)silence (Fr)Pause (Ger)

More Musical Symbols & Commands:

Grand Staff Key Signatures Time Signatures Tempo & Speed

Music Notes Music Rests Sharps & Flats Dotted Notes

Repeat Signs Note Accents Volume Symbols Note Ornaments

How to Read Sheet Music:

 ● See the notes on the treble and bass staves, as well as their ledger lines, and learn mnemonic devices to help you remember them. ● Key signatures take some time to memorize. Whether you want to identify one or learn how to write one on the staff, this interactive and quick key signature finder will help. ● Tempo Commands Organized By SpeedResource for the most common tempo terms in Italian, French, and German, organized by their BPM (beats per minute). ● How to Read Piano FingeringLittle numbers are sometimes written next to the notes on the staff to help you sort out which fingers you should use on which keys. Fingering is frequently found in beginner notation but is also seen alongside difficult passages in more advanced sheet music. ● Chord Types & Their SymbolsSee the various symbols that specify certain chords in notation, and learn how to form them using simple formulas. 

Beginner Piano Lessons ▪  Notes of the Piano Keys ▪  Finding Middle C on the Piano ▪  Left Hand Piano Fingering ▪  How to Count Triplets ▪  Musical Quizzes & TestsGetting Started on Keyboard Instruments ▪  Playing Piano vs. Electric Keyboard ▪  How to Sit at the Piano ▪  Buying a Used PianoForming Piano Chords ▪  Essential Piano Chord Fingering ▪  Left-Hand Chords With Fingering ▪  Comparing Major & Minor Chords ▪  Diminished Chords & DissonancePiano Care & Maintenance ▪  Best Piano Room Conditions ▪  How to Clean Your Piano ▪  Safely Whiten Your Piano Keys ▪  When To Tune Your Piano 

barline

triad

great stave

coda

(mp) mezzo piano

semibreve

marcato

Symbols of Piano Music

quadruplet

whole note

beats per minute

downbeat

key signature

15ma

The Staff in Music Notation

How to Read Piano Music

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

Definition of Music Rest:

A rest is a musical symbol that marks the absence of a note. Rests are written in a measure where no note is played; and, like music notes, they are measured in length. Quarter, half, and whole rests are among the most common.*

Music rests only affect the staff in which they occur; a rest in the bass staff won’t affect the treble staff, and vice versa. However, a rest may be written in a staff full of notes if there are two planes of action – continue for a visual example:

View the Different Rest Lengths on the Staff

  • Rest names may be in U.S. or U.K. English, like notes. A U.S. whole rest is also called a U.K. “semibreve rest”; a quarter rest is also a “crotchet rest,” and so on. 

    Multilingual Synonyms:

pausa (It)silence (Fr)Pause (Ger)

More Musical Symbols & Commands:

Grand Staff Key Signatures Time Signatures Tempo & Speed

Music Notes Music Rests Sharps & Flats Dotted Notes

Repeat Signs Note Accents Volume Symbols Note Ornaments

How to Read Sheet Music:

 ● See the notes on the treble and bass staves, as well as their ledger lines, and learn mnemonic devices to help you remember them. ● Key signatures take some time to memorize. Whether you want to identify one or learn how to write one on the staff, this interactive and quick key signature finder will help. ● Tempo Commands Organized By SpeedResource for the most common tempo terms in Italian, French, and German, organized by their BPM (beats per minute). ● How to Read Piano FingeringLittle numbers are sometimes written next to the notes on the staff to help you sort out which fingers you should use on which keys. Fingering is frequently found in beginner notation but is also seen alongside difficult passages in more advanced sheet music. ● Chord Types & Their SymbolsSee the various symbols that specify certain chords in notation, and learn how to form them using simple formulas. 

Beginner Piano Lessons ▪  Notes of the Piano Keys ▪  Finding Middle C on the Piano ▪  Left Hand Piano Fingering ▪  How to Count Triplets ▪  Musical Quizzes & TestsGetting Started on Keyboard Instruments ▪  Playing Piano vs. Electric Keyboard ▪  How to Sit at the Piano ▪  Buying a Used PianoForming Piano Chords ▪  Essential Piano Chord Fingering ▪  Left-Hand Chords With Fingering ▪  Comparing Major & Minor Chords ▪  Diminished Chords & DissonancePiano Care & Maintenance ▪  Best Piano Room Conditions ▪  How to Clean Your Piano ▪  Safely Whiten Your Piano Keys ▪  When To Tune Your Piano 

barline

triad

great stave

coda

(mp) mezzo piano

semibreve

marcato

Symbols of Piano Music

quadruplet

whole note

beats per minute

downbeat

key signature

15ma

The Staff in Music Notation

How to Read Piano Music

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

Definition of Music Rest:

A rest is a musical symbol that marks the absence of a note. Rests are written in a measure where no note is played; and, like music notes, they are measured in length. Quarter, half, and whole rests are among the most common.*

Music rests only affect the staff in which they occur; a rest in the bass staff won’t affect the treble staff, and vice versa. However, a rest may be written in a staff full of notes if there are two planes of action – continue for a visual example:

View the Different Rest Lengths on the Staff

  • Rest names may be in U.S. or U.K. English, like notes. A U.S. whole rest is also called a U.K. “semibreve rest”; a quarter rest is also a “crotchet rest,” and so on. 

    Multilingual Synonyms:

pausa (It)silence (Fr)Pause (Ger)

More Musical Symbols & Commands:

Grand Staff Key Signatures Time Signatures Tempo & Speed

Music Notes Music Rests Sharps & Flats Dotted Notes

Repeat Signs Note Accents Volume Symbols Note Ornaments

How to Read Sheet Music:

 ● See the notes on the treble and bass staves, as well as their ledger lines, and learn mnemonic devices to help you remember them. ● Key signatures take some time to memorize. Whether you want to identify one or learn how to write one on the staff, this interactive and quick key signature finder will help. ● Tempo Commands Organized By SpeedResource for the most common tempo terms in Italian, French, and German, organized by their BPM (beats per minute). ● How to Read Piano FingeringLittle numbers are sometimes written next to the notes on the staff to help you sort out which fingers you should use on which keys. Fingering is frequently found in beginner notation but is also seen alongside difficult passages in more advanced sheet music. ● Chord Types & Their SymbolsSee the various symbols that specify certain chords in notation, and learn how to form them using simple formulas. 

Beginner Piano Lessons ▪  Notes of the Piano Keys ▪  Finding Middle C on the Piano ▪  Left Hand Piano Fingering ▪  How to Count Triplets ▪  Musical Quizzes & TestsGetting Started on Keyboard Instruments ▪  Playing Piano vs. Electric Keyboard ▪  How to Sit at the Piano ▪  Buying a Used PianoForming Piano Chords ▪  Essential Piano Chord Fingering ▪  Left-Hand Chords With Fingering ▪  Comparing Major & Minor Chords ▪  Diminished Chords & DissonancePiano Care & Maintenance ▪  Best Piano Room Conditions ▪  How to Clean Your Piano ▪  Safely Whiten Your Piano Keys ▪  When To Tune Your Piano 

Definition of Music Rest:

A rest is a musical symbol that marks the absence of a note. Rests are written in a measure where no note is played; and, like music notes, they are measured in length. Quarter, half, and whole rests are among the most common.*

Music rests only affect the staff in which they occur; a rest in the bass staff won’t affect the treble staff, and vice versa. However, a rest may be written in a staff full of notes if there are two planes of action – continue for a visual example:

  • View the Different Rest Lengths on the Staff
  • Rest names may be in U.S. or U.K. English, like notes. A U.S. whole rest is also called a U.K. “semibreve rest”; a quarter rest is also a “crotchet rest,” and so on. 

Multilingual Synonyms:

  • pausa (It)silence (Fr)Pause (Ger)

More Musical Symbols & Commands:

Grand Staff Key Signatures Time Signatures Tempo & Speed

Music Notes Music Rests Sharps & Flats Dotted Notes

Repeat Signs Note Accents Volume Symbols Note Ornaments

How to Read Sheet Music:

 ● See the notes on the treble and bass staves, as well as their ledger lines, and learn mnemonic devices to help you remember them. ● Key signatures take some time to memorize. Whether you want to identify one or learn how to write one on the staff, this interactive and quick key signature finder will help. ● Tempo Commands Organized By SpeedResource for the most common tempo terms in Italian, French, and German, organized by their BPM (beats per minute). ● How to Read Piano FingeringLittle numbers are sometimes written next to the notes on the staff to help you sort out which fingers you should use on which keys. Fingering is frequently found in beginner notation but is also seen alongside difficult passages in more advanced sheet music. ● Chord Types & Their SymbolsSee the various symbols that specify certain chords in notation, and learn how to form them using simple formulas. 

Beginner Piano Lessons ▪  Notes of the Piano Keys ▪  Finding Middle C on the Piano ▪  Left Hand Piano Fingering ▪  How to Count Triplets ▪  Musical Quizzes & TestsGetting Started on Keyboard Instruments ▪  Playing Piano vs. Electric Keyboard ▪  How to Sit at the Piano ▪  Buying a Used PianoForming Piano Chords ▪  Essential Piano Chord Fingering ▪  Left-Hand Chords With Fingering ▪  Comparing Major & Minor Chords ▪  Diminished Chords & DissonancePiano Care & Maintenance ▪  Best Piano Room Conditions ▪  How to Clean Your Piano ▪  Safely Whiten Your Piano Keys ▪  When To Tune Your Piano 

How to Read Sheet Music:

 ● See the notes on the treble and bass staves, as well as their ledger lines, and learn mnemonic devices to help you remember them. ● Key signatures take some time to memorize. Whether you want to identify one or learn how to write one on the staff, this interactive and quick key signature finder will help. ● Tempo Commands Organized By SpeedResource for the most common tempo terms in Italian, French, and German, organized by their BPM (beats per minute). ● How to Read Piano FingeringLittle numbers are sometimes written next to the notes on the staff to help you sort out which fingers you should use on which keys. Fingering is frequently found in beginner notation but is also seen alongside difficult passages in more advanced sheet music. ● Chord Types & Their SymbolsSee the various symbols that specify certain chords in notation, and learn how to form them using simple formulas. 

Beginner Piano Lessons ▪  Notes of the Piano Keys ▪  Finding Middle C on the Piano ▪  Left Hand Piano Fingering ▪  How to Count Triplets ▪  Musical Quizzes & TestsGetting Started on Keyboard Instruments ▪  Playing Piano vs. Electric Keyboard ▪  How to Sit at the Piano ▪  Buying a Used PianoForming Piano Chords ▪  Essential Piano Chord Fingering ▪  Left-Hand Chords With Fingering ▪  Comparing Major & Minor Chords ▪  Diminished Chords & DissonancePiano Care & Maintenance ▪  Best Piano Room Conditions ▪  How to Clean Your Piano ▪  Safely Whiten Your Piano Keys ▪  When To Tune Your Piano 

  • barline

  • triad

  • great stave

  • coda

  • (mp) mezzo piano

  • semibreve

  • marcato

  • Symbols of Piano Music

  • quadruplet

  • whole note

  • beats per minute

  • downbeat

  • key signature

  • 15ma

  • The Staff in Music Notation

  • How to Read Piano Music

barline

barline

triad

triad

great stave

great stave

coda

coda

(mp) mezzo piano

(mp) mezzo piano

semibreve

semibreve

marcato

marcato

Symbols of Piano Music

Symbols of Piano Music

quadruplet

quadruplet

whole note

whole note

beats per minute

beats per minute

downbeat

downbeat

key signature

key signature

15ma

15ma

The Staff in Music Notation

The Staff in Music Notation

How to Read Piano Music

How to Read Piano Music

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Home

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

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  • EU Privacy

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  • Careers

  • Activities

  • Humor

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies