Rest (music)
interval of silence in a piece of music, marked by a rest symbol indicating the length of the pause
A rest is a musical note that indicates no sound.
Each rest symbol and name corresponds with a particular note value for length of time. The rest shows how long the silence should last.
Normal rests
changeAmerican English | British English | Multiplier | Symbol |
---|---|---|---|
Longa | Longa rest | 4 | |
Double whole rest | Breve rest | 2 | |
Whole rest | Semibreve rest | 1 | |
Half rest | Minim rest | 1⁄2 | |
Quarter rest | Crotchet rest | 1⁄4 | |
Eighth rest | Quaver rest | 1⁄8 | |
Sixteenth rest | Semiquaver rest | 1⁄16 | |
Thirty-second rest | Demisemiquaver rest | 1⁄32 | |
Sixty-fourth rest | Hemidemisemiquaver rest | 1⁄64 |
Multiple bar rests
changeIf a rest should last for multiple bars, it is shown by a thick horizontal line in the middle of the staff, with short vertical lines at each end. The number of bars of the rest is written over the top.