#AP Music Theory: Rhythm and Notation - Your Ultimate Study Guide 🎶

Hey there, future maestro! Let's dive into the world of rhythm and notation. This guide is designed to be your best friend the night before the exam, so let’s make every second count! We'll break down the key concepts, offer some memory aids, and get you feeling confident. Let's do this!

#Rhythm Basics

#What is Rhythm?

• Rhythm is all about how long notes and rests last. It's the heartbeat of music, the pattern of sounds and silences. Think of it as the 'when' of music, while melody is the 'what.'
• We use different note values to write rhythms, each with its own duration. Let's explore them!

#The Beat: Your Musical Pulse

• The beat is the basic unit of time in music. It's what you tap your foot to. 🦶
• The time signature tells you how many beats are in each measure and what note value equals one beat. We'll mostly assume a quarter note = 1 beat for now.

#Note Values and Rests

#Quarter Notes and Rests

• A quarter note gets one beat. It's our basic building block. 🧱
• A quarter rest is a silence that lasts for one beat.

#Subdividing the Beat

• Eighth Notes: Divide a quarter note in half, and you get two eighth notes per beat. 🎵🎵
• Eighth Rests: Silence for half a beat.