Lesson 5: Rhythm
Learn to count the beats, hold long notes and play short notes, then play “Jingle Bells”.
What you'll learn
- Count the beats
- Hold a note for two or four beats
- Play “Jingle Bells”
The lesson, step by step
- Today, we're talking about rhythm: some notes are long, others are short. To play them at the right moment, you'll learn to count the beats. And at the end, you'll play Jingle Bells.
- Music moves forward like a clock, with a steady pulse: we call these the beats. Put your right hand in C position, with your thumb on the middle C. Listen first: four Cs, one on each beat. Count in your head: one, two, three, four.
- A note can last several beats. Here, your middle finger plays three Es. The first two last one beat, and the third one lasts two beats: its bar is twice as long. We keep the key pressed down while counting one, two. Listen first.
- Even longer: a note that lasts four beats. E with your middle finger, G with your little finger, C with your thumb, D with your index finger, then an E that we hold for four beats, counting one, two, three, four. Listen first.
- There are also short notes. Two short notes fit into a single beat: they go twice as fast, and their bars are tiny. Listen first: five Fs with your ring finger, two Es, then two quick Es.
- Here's what comes next. It ends with two notes of two beats each: D, then G. Listen first.
- Your song: Jingle Bells. You already know all of its notes. Only the very end changes: G, G, F, D, and a long C that lasts four beats. Listen to it once, then follow the falling notes.
- Well done, you can now count the beats and play long and short notes. In the next lesson, we'll leave C position: you'll discover a new note, A, and learn how to move your hand.