Lesson 01 The pulse and the quarter note
- Introduction
- 4/4
- 60 bpm
- 4 bars
- 16 claps
- New: quarter note; 4/4 time
About this exercise
The first lesson has a single goal: clap once on every beat, always at the same distance from the previous clap. It sounds simple, but this is where the most important habit in rhythm reading is built: letting the metronome lead, not the urge to speed up.
There are 4 identical bars, 16 claps in total. Use the exercise to find a comfortable clap (relaxed hands, short sound) and to practice counting out loud, "1, 2, 3, 4", which will stay with you in every lesson that follows.
Before you start
The pulse is the steady beat of music, like a clock. In 4/4 time each bar has 4 beats and the quarter note (♩, black notehead with a stem) lasts 1 beat. In this exercise you clap once on every beat: 1, 2, 3, 4.
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How to play it
- Count-in: the site counts 1 bar before starting ("1 2 3 4"). Clap the first note on beat 1 of bar 1.
- Reading: read the line on the yellow strip and look ahead to the next one: that's how you read ahead.
How to practice
- Say the count out loud, without clapping, looking at the Bar by bar table.
- In Together mode, count and clap at the same time as the character.
- In Your turn mode, clap on your own. If it's hard, slow down and then come back.
Bar by bar
Bold = clap · (n) = don't clap, the sound keeps going (hands together) · [n] = rest, hands open.
| Bar | Notes | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 quarter notes | 1 2 3 4 |
| 2 | 4 quarter notes | 1 2 3 4 |
| 3 | 4 quarter notes | 1 2 3 4 |
| 4 | 4 quarter notes | 1 2 3 4 |
Notes used: quarter note.