Rest
A rest is the sign for a voice's silence over a certain note value. Every note value has a rest of equal length with its own symbol. Silence is as much a part of rhythm as the tone.
Signs for silence
There is a rest for every note value: whole, half, quarter, eighth and shorter rests down to the 128th rest, plus the general pause (G.P.) for all voices and the multi-bar rest.
| Rest | Corresponds to | Duration in 4/4 |
|---|---|---|
| Whole rest | whole note | 4 beats |
| Half rest | half note | 2 beats |
| Quarter rest | quarter note | 1 beat |
| Eighth rest | eighth note | ½ beat |
A rest is not a hole but designed silence: a well-placed moment of silence can carry a lot of tension. In rhythm it forms, together with the notes, the pattern of long and short durations over the even pulse.
Counting rests
Rests are often swallowed. A rest is an active duration that has to be counted just like a note. When counting aloud, in 4/4 “1 – 2 – 3 – 4”, the rule is: you count the rest along even when you are not playing anything. At the same time you tap the pulse with your foot. This helps especially when rests lie inside a bar, because that is exactly where the tempo slips away.
Common mistakes
- Swallowing rests: They have a fixed duration and must be counted.
- Mixing up rest and tie: The rest is silence, the tie lengthens a sounding note.
- Leaving rests out when nothing sounds: Beats without a tone remain part of the bar.
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Related terms
Note valueQuarter noteWhole noteBar / measureTime signatureBeatSyncopationGeneral pauseTempo
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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