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Practice Suggestions for Learning How to Play Rhythms with the Eighth Note Equal to One Beat
In all of patterns in this lesson the eighth note is equal to one beat. Read the Lesson 12 Introduction to learn about relative note values so you know exactly how long each note should be played.
Since the eighth note is equal to one beat, and the shortest note value is an eighth note, you do not need to subdivide the beat in these patterns. Count along with MetronomeBot, and play the patterns with RhythmBot to make sure that you are playing the rhythms accurately.
If time signatures with the eighth note equal to one beat are new to you, it will take a lot of practice to become comfortable with them. Practice counting and clapping these patterns many times before attempting to play them on your instrument. A pulse of three or four beats per measure is easy to feel, but six beats in a measure seems very long when playing it for the first time. It is helpful to first clap the beat with a metronome and repeatedly count to six to feel this meter. Practice clapping and counting like this many times until it becomes comfortable.
To feel the beat better, lightly tap your foot on every beat.
Count strongly and clearly with a metronome to make sure that you are performing the rhythms accurately.
For more practice tips and suggestions, visit the Practice page.
Practice Pattern Table of Contents
Lesson 12 Introduction - learn about the eighth note beat
Lesson 12 Practice Patterns Table of Contents
Get the Book
Fundamentals of Rhythm book
If you would like all of this information in book format so that you can put it on your music stand and practice it wherever you go, get The Fundamentals of Rhythm, by Kyle Coughlin. The book includes all of the lesson information and practice exercises found on the website.
Use MetronomeBot for a fun online metronome!
The online metronome that counts the beat, subdivides, and offers encouraging practice tips.
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