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Rhythm Reading
EN

Lesson 31 2/4: two beats per bar

  • Introduction
  • 2/4
  • 60 bpm
  • 8 bars
  • 15 claps
  • New: 2/4 time
60 bpm

Before you start

In 2/4 time each bar has 2 beats (the top number) and the quarter note still lasts 1 beat (the 4 at the bottom). Count "1, 2 | 1, 2". It's the time of marches.

How to play it

  1. Count-in: the site counts 1 bar before starting ("1 2"). Clap the first note on beat 1 of bar 1.
  2. Reading: read the line on the yellow strip and look ahead to the next one: that's how you read ahead.
  3. Hands together: on notes longer than 1 beat (half note) clap and keep your hands together until the end of the note: hands together = the sound keeps going.

How to practice

  1. Say the count out loud, without clapping, looking at the Bar by bar table.
  2. In Together mode, count and clap at the same time as the character.
  3. In Your turn mode, clap on your own. If it's hard, slow down and then come back.

Goal: ★★★ three times in a row at 60 bpm. Then the lesson is completed.

Bar by bar

Bold = clap · (n) = don't clap, the sound keeps going (hands together) · [n] = rest, hands open.

Bar Notes Count
1 2 quarter notes 1 2
2 2 quarter notes 1 2
3 2 quarter notes 1 2
4 2 quarter notes 1 2
5 2 quarter notes 1 2
6 2 quarter notes 1 2
7 2 quarter notes 1 2
8 half note 1 (2)

Notes used: half note, quarter note.