Music Note Rhythm Chart
The rhythms you actually play · one bar of 4/4 each · 20 patterns · with counting · tap a row to hear it
How to play
- Every row is one bar of 4/4 — four beats. Tap a row to hear it played with a click on every beat, and watch each note light up as it sounds.
- The bold numbers under the notes are the counting. Say them out loud as it plays: 1 2 3 4 for quarter notes, 1 & 2 & for eighths, 1 e & a for sixteenths. Numbers are the beats; the syllables in between are the offbeats.
- The blue bars under each row mark where the beats fall, so you can see which notes land on a beat and which land between them — that is what makes a rhythm feel syncopated.
- Tempo changes the speed in BPM. Metronome toggles the click. Play all runs down the whole chart, easiest first. Vol sets volume.
- Keyboard — Tab to any row or control, Enter/Space to play it.
The widget is described as being a kind of virtual rhythm chart that enables you to both see and hear where various patterns of music align within a four-four bar. There are two ways you can use it. Firstly, you can trigger the sounds using your computer keyboard. Alternatively, you can click straight onto rows using your mouse.
Each row contains a different rhythm ranging from simple quarter notes through to more complex syncopated figures. Each row of the list represent one entire musical measure. Simply tap any row to have it played back for you (with a click at each beat). As the note sounds, you will see it light up in amber. You can then visually match this sound to written out counting syllables. Below the notes are the bold numbers that indicate what to say out loud. Numbers is on the beats, and symbols are between the beats on the offbeats.
How to Use the Rhythm Widget
Below that are rows of rhythms. The blue bars indicates when the main beats occur. You can use this hint to help you understand what is syncopated. If a note sits on one of the blue bars it’s grounded. If it sits between those bars, it lifts or pushes, it also feels out of time with the groove.
To change the tempo, use the tempo slider. Dragging the slider changes the beats per minute, letting you practice the patterns slowly or speed them up to challenge yourself. This means that you can play along with the patterns at a slower pace (practice), or speed them up to make them more difficult than before. The metronome button turns the click track on and off. Use the click if you need help keeping time. Otherwise, try turning it off and see how long you can stay on beat.
The play all button runs through entire chart from top to bottom. You can use this to warm up but also to get an idea of how the patterns flow from one to the next. The volume slider controls the volume of the metronome click and the volume of the synth tones. Make sure you have the volume set comfortabley so that you can hear the difference between the soft tone of the notes and the sharper click. Fullscreen expands the widget so it fills your whole screen. Handy if you have a smaller monitor and want some extra space to view the notation without distraction. The Help Button opens a small window that provides a handy reference guide to help you remember to count 16th notes or triplets etc. If you ever find yourself forgetting one of these, just click here!
You don’t have to lift your fingers; just use your keyboard. To change the focus between the controls and rows press the Tab key. Press the Space or Enter key to activate the focused row. This way you can practice the rhythms accurately. You can also move forward and backward to contrast like rhythms. Try hearing the difference between the dotted quarter plus eighth and the standard quarter plus two eighths.
At the top of the list are the easier ones to begin with. Tap your foot on the downbeat and clap while playing these patterns. When you are confident do the same for the lower ones in the list, which include the syncopation. Pay attention to where the rests fall, creating a silence that forms the groove. It’s not only the notes but also the rests that count. Slowly work through each pattern. Don’t force yourself to complete the chart in one sitting. Your goal is to get a feel for how each subdivision sounds and feels.
If you’re struggling with a pattern, use the tempo control to slow it down. Also, pay attention to the visual beat indicators, which will help you count along. When you see a note light up but the blue bar isn’t lit, you’ll know that note is on the offbeat.
Here are some of the many options when it comes to rhythm. These range from simple rock grooves to Latin rhythms like this Tresillo pattern. These all help you learn how notes interacts with time. The idea behind the widget is to help players. It can bridge the chasm that exists between reading notation and hearing the result.
Use it to get in the habit. Try spending just a couple of minutes per day practicing them from top to bottom. Make sure you say the counting syllables aloud while you play. That way, your brain becomes more familiar with what you hear. With enough repetition, those patterns will become second nature. Play around with the settings. Change the tempo and hear what happens to the rhythm. Disable the metronome and go at it alone. Activate fullscreen mode to remove all distractions, and just concentrate on reading the music.
You can’t do anything wrong here. This is your chart to try out and learn from. To begin, click the top line. Can you hear the quarter note pulsing steadily? Now try clicking the next row to hear more complex rhythms… Can you feel the extra pulse?
Continue downward through the rows. Each pattern builds on the last. As you get used to this, you’ll notice how it sharpens your sense of rhythm. Learning should be enjoyable. Feel the time in music.