2/8 and 4/8 Time
Most time signatures that we meet in the music we play with a lower number 8, are compound time, but there are also simple time signatures with an 8 below. …
Double Dotted Notes
Double Dots A single dot to the right of a note head increases the length of the note by 50% (the note plus half of itself). So, a dotted minim …
Breves (Double Whole Notes)
Breves The longest note we have come across in earlier theory grades is the semibreve (whole note)- written as an open note-head without a stem. We’ll now learn about a …
Rewriting Rhythms (Grade 3 ABRSM)
What is Rewriting? We can rewrite a melody using different value notes, without changing the rhythm. For example, here’s a rhythm in 3/4: And here’s the same rhythm in 3/2: …
Beaming and Grouping (Grade 3)
Grouping & Beaming Notes A beam is the line that joins together. In the ABRSM Grade 3 music theory exam you might be asked to find a bar with the …
Rests (Grade 3)
Here are the rests you need to know for the grade 3 music theory exam, in order of length, starting with the longest: semibreve – minim – crotchet – quaver …
Compound Time Signatures
Table of Note Names UK v. USA Simple Time Signatures Up till now you have only learnt about simple time signatures. (Perhaps you didn’t think they were very “simple” though!) …
The Demisemiquaver (32nd Note)
The smallest note you will have come across in your music theory exams so far is the semiquaver. Remember that 4 semiquavers are worth 1 crotchet. A semiquaver has two …
Syncopation
Usually, when a composer writes a rhythm, they fit it to a time signature so that the notes which fall on the strong beats of the bar are given a little emphasis, …
Triplets
A “triplet” is a group of three notes played in the time of two. To look at how triplets work, we’ll first look at a short rhythm in 3/4 time. …