Lesson 37 of 114DrumsBeginner

Example 2 - Placing of the Half-Note Rest

Discover how to place half-note rests effectively within a bar. This lesson helps you maintain steady rhythms and prepares you for dynamic bass drum phrasing.
Part of the courseRockschool Drums Method for Beginners114 lessons (3h 47m)

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What's in the course

114 lessons (3h 47m) · 1 free
    • 01. Introduction to Country Music

      4:13

    • 02. Skills Checkpoint

      1:54

    • 03. Example 1 - Half-Note Rest

      1:18

    • 04. Example 2 - Placing of the Half-Note Rest

      You are here

      1:31

    • 05. Example 3 - Bass Drum Phrases

      1:29

    • 06. Bonus Exercise 1

      1:27

    • 07. Bonus Exercise 2

      1:10

    • 08. Country Lesson 2 - Combining Bass Drum, Snare, and Hi-Hat

      3:07

    • 09. Example 1 - Combining the Bass Drum & Hi-Hat

      1:40

    • 10. Example 2 - Adding the Half-Note Rest in Various Positions

      1:10

    • 11. Example 3 - Moving Quickly Between Drum Voices

      1:10

    • 12. Example 4 - Borderlands Bars 1-4

      1:06

    • 13. Bonus Exercise 1

      1:30

    • 14. Bonus Exercise 2

      0:56

    • 15. Country Music Section Summary

      0:26

Lesson transcript

Understanding Quarter Note Rests Versus Half Note Rests

There are occasions when you need to use two quarter note rests instead of a half note rest. This typically occurs if the rest falls in the middle of a bar.

Dividing a Bar

  • Ideally, you want to be able to divide a bar into two.
  • For example, if you want two rests on beat two and three, it wouldn't be wise to write a half note rest there.
    • This is because it cuts across the bar halfway through, if that makes sense.

Placement of Half Note Rests

  • If the half note rest starts on beat one or beat three, it will be written that way.

Practice Exercise

Okay, so we're going to use the bass drum here.

Let’s try example 2:
1, 2, 3, 4.

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Sophie Alloway

Sophie Alloway

Sophie Alloway is a session and touring drummer at the heart of the London jazz scene. She has performed with Jason Rebello, Yazz Ahmed, Laurence Cottle and Tony Allen, and notably played for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace shortly before he became King.

Touring credits include Roots Manuva, the Thriller musical and Paul Stacey (Oasis / The Black Crowes). She is also the drummer in original fusion band Lydian Collective, with over six million Spotify streams.

Sophie has recorded sessions at Abbey Road, AIR and Angel studios, and her television appearances include Later… with Jools Holland, Glastonbury and two series of Adrian Dunbar’s drama Ridley. She is featured on Abbey Road Masters: The Drum Sessions and performed for the BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024 finalists, broadcast on BBC TV and Radio. Jon Newey of Jazz FM dubbed her the “goddess of groove”.

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