Rest symbols in music indicate periods of silence in a musical piece. They denote when the musician or singer should not play or sing, allowing time for breathing, creating emphasis, or pacing in the music. Rests are a vital component of musical notation, helping convey the composer’s intended timing, phrasing, and expression.
Types of Rest Symbols
There are several common types of rest symbols used in standard Western musical notation:
- Whole rest – Indicates 4 beats of silence at the current tempo. Denoted by a filled-in rectangle hanging below the 4th line of the staff.
- Half rest – Indicates 2 beats of silence. Denoted by a filled-in rectangle sitting on top of the 3rd line of the staff.
- Quarter rest – Indicates 1 beat of silence. Denoted by a filled-in rectangle hanging below the 4th line of the staff.
- Eighth rest – Indicates 1/2 beat of silence. Denoted by a squiggly, comma-like symbol with a flag.
- Sixteenth rest – Indicates 1/4 beat of silence. Denoted by a squiggly, comma-like symbol with two flags.
- Thirty-second rest – Indicates 1/8 beat of silence. Denoted by a squiggly, comma-like symbol with three flags.
- Sixty-fourth rest – Indicates 1/16 beat of silence. Denoted by a squiggly, comma-like symbol with four flags.
Rests of longer durations include the long rest which indicates several measures of silence. Shorter rests can be marked with numbers indicating fractions of beats.
The Length of Rests
The length of a rest symbol is dependent on the time signature or meter of the music. This defines the number and duration of beats in each measure of music.
For example, in common time with a 4/4 time signature, there are 4 quarter note beats per measure. So a whole rest would last for a full 4 beats or one measure, while an eighth rest would only last half a beat.
Some common time signatures and rest durations include:
| Time Signature | Whole Rest | Half Rest | Quarter Rest | Eighth Rest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | 4 beats | 2 beats | 1 beat | 1/2 beat |
| 3/4 | 3 beats | 1 1/2 beats | 1 beat | 1/2 beat |
| 2/2 (or Cut Time) | 2 beats | 1 beat | 1/2 beat | 1/4 beat |
The tempo or pace of the music also affects the practical length of rests. At fast tempos, rests go by quickly, while slow tempos prolong the silence of rests.
Rest Duration vs. Note Values
Rests can be thought of as the counterpart or negative space to notes. Any note value has an equivalent rest value.
So a half note that lasts 2 beats would have a half rest also lasting 2 beats. A dotted quarter note lasting 1 1/2 beats would have a dotted quarter rest of that same duration.
| Note Value | Rest Value |
|---|---|
| Whole note (4 beats) | Whole rest (4 beats) |
| Dotted half note (3 beats) | Dotted half rest (3 beats) |
| Quarter note (1 beat) | Quarter rest (1 beat) |
| Eighth note (1/2 beat) | Eighth rest (1/2 beat) |
| Sixteenth note (1/4 beat) | Sixteenth rest (1/4 beat) |
So the duration of any rest can be determined by the equivalent note value at the current tempo.
Purpose of Rest Symbols
Rests serve several important musical functions:
Allow Breathing
Rests indicate when singers or wind instrument players can take a breath in the music. Phrasing rest periods appropriately allows for better breath support and musical expression.
Create Emphasis
Strategically placed rests can emphasize certain notes, chords, or passages by isolating them. The silence highlights the importance of the surrounding music.
Indicate Pauses
Rests show pauses and breaks between musical ideas and phrases. Rests divide music into smaller segments and motifs.
Provide Rhythmic Space
Rests are part of the rhythmic structure and meter of music. Just as beats are defined by notes, they are also defined by rests in between those notes.
Allow Decay of Sound
When played on instruments like piano and guitar, rests provide time for the natural decay of sounded notes to occur.
Indicate Tacit Passages
Rests are used to notate passages where one instrument or section is silent while others play. This is known as a tacit passage.
Rests vs. Silence
Rests are not exactly the same as silence. While a rest indicates no sound should be made, other instruments often continue playing during these periods. True silence, or a general pause in all parts, is usually notated differently with a pause symbol over a rest.
Notating Long Rests
Extended rests of several bars or measures can be impractical to write out with many whole or half rest symbols. So condensed symbols are used instead:
- Longa rest – Indicates 4 bars rest. Denoted by a filled-in rectangle centered on the 4th line.
- Breve rest – Indicates 2 bars rest. Denoted by a filled-in rectangle in the third space.
The number of bars rested can also be marked numerically inside these symbols.
Rests in Different Clefs
The staff position of rests changes based on the clef. Rests are positioned in relation to the lines and spaces of the staff, centered around the fourth line.
In treble clef, whole rests sit below the staff on the fourth line. Half rests sit on the third line. But in bass clef, these rests sit in different staff positions:
| Rest Type | Treble Clef Position | Bass Clef Position |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Rest | 4th line | 3rd line |
| Half Rest | 3rd line | 2nd line |
This allows rests to maintain a consistent relationship to the written pitch they occur with in each clef.
Dotted Rests
Rests can also be dotted to increase their duration, just like dotted notes. A dot after a rest increases its length by half. Examples:
- Dotted quarter rest = 1 1/2 beats
- Dotted eighth rest = 3/4 beats
Dotted rests are useful for creating intricate or complex rhythms.
Rests in Compound Meter
In compound meter time signatures like 6/8 or 9/4, the beat is divided into three subdivisions instead of two. Rests correspond to these triplet subdivisions.
A quarter rest equals one third of a beat. An eighth rest equals one third of a quarter rest. A dotted quarter rest equals two thirds of a beat.
Multimeasure Rests
Sometimes multiple measures in a row contain rests. These can be condensed into a multimeasure rest symbol consisting of multiple whole rests stacked on top of each other and grouped with a bracket. The number of measures rested is marked numerically.
Pickup Rests
Incomplete initial measures are known as pickup measures or anacruses. They use pickup rests before the first complete measure begins. For example, a piece may start on beat 4 with a quarter rest pickup measure.
Rests vs. Ties
Ties are sometimes confused with rests but they serve a different function. A tie connects two notes of the same pitch together to elongate the sound, while rests deliberately silence the sound.
Fermatas Over Rests
Fermata symbols over rests indicate an extended breath or pause at that point. This prolongs the rest by an indeterminate amount at the discretion of the performer or conductor.
Conclusion
Rest symbols are a fundamental component of musical notation that indicate when silence should occur in the music. They define the rhythmic structure, phrasing, and pacing of compositions. Different types of rests create sounds and spaces of varying lengths based on the meter and tempo. Understanding rest notation is essential for accurately communicating the musical ideas of composers and songwriters.