Lesson 5 - Eighth notes
The next note length to become familiar with is the 'eighth note'. As its name suggests, it lasts exactly half as long as a quarter note.
Fig 5-1: Eighth note
To count them accurately when the quarter note is the beat, we count them in pairs as "
one and two and" etc.
Fig 5-2: Eighth notes grouped to show the division of the bar at the midpoint
Fig 5-3: Eighth and quarter note timing****************
Reading exercise 4
Listen
A tempo indication of 72 (quarter note) beats per minute is shown at the start, but you don't need to play it at exactly that tempo, which could only be done by using a metronome, a click track at 72 beats per minute or by playing along with the midi file. Play it as slowly as you need - but the timing must be consistent from start to finish. Notice how some low eighth notes have downward pointing stems. That's because they're grouped (
beamed) with higher notes. Notes beamed together have tails pointing in the same direction.