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Counting Beats, Note Lengths & Timing

December 16, 2019

Learning about note lengths and timings can help us understand scratch rhythms and patterns. This knowledge is especially useful when performing scratch drills in your practice sessions (I’ll explain scratch drills in a future article.)

Here is a video from my online School of Scratch to help you learn and incorporate these timings into your practice.




Overview

Whole note

Lasts for 4 beats. 1 note in 1 bar.

  • 1

Half notes

Last for 2 beats. 2 Notes in 1 bar.

  • 1
  • 3

Quarter notes

1 beat each. 1 quarter note = 1 beat. 4 notes in 1 bar.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

8th notes

Half a beat each. 2 x 8th notes = 1 beat. 8 notes in 1 bar.

  • 1 &
  • 2 &
  • 3 &
  • 4 &

16th notes

Quarter of a beat each. 4 x 16th notes = 1 beat. 16 notes in 1 bar.

  • 1 e and a
  • 2 e and a
  • 3 e and a
  • 4 e and a

32nd notes

An eighth of a beat each. 8 x 32nd notes = 1 beat. 32 notes in 1 bar.

  • Kinda fast to count out!
  • Double the speed of 16th notes.

What’s next?

Practice performing the scratch techniques you are currently working on scratches in each of these timings.

If you want a complete video tutorial breakdown of how to perform each scratch technique with demonstrations of each of the timings that are possible, check out my online School of Scratch which covers each scratch in great detail.

Our classroom contains a “practice cheat sheet” that you can download and print out which enables you to track your progress for each technique and tick off the timings and rhythms that you have mastered, so you always know where you are up to in your practice and learning process. Our students call this their scratch bible!

Want more?

If you want to learn how to scratch, I will send you 2 free video tutorials so you can see exactly how I can help you do just that. Use the signup form below.

OR, if you are ready to join and access all our masterclass tutorials and be part of our Supa Scratch Crew, you can signup here and get full access to the school, all my scratch secrets and our awesome community:

Join School of Scratch

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Filed Under: School of Scratch, Scratch Tutorials, Video

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