Rest (music)

A rest is a musical note that indicates no sound.

Each rest symbol and name corresponds with a particular note value for length of time. The rest shows how long the silence should last.

Normal rests

American English British English Multiplier Symbol
Longa Longa rest 4
Double whole rest Breve rest 2
Whole rest Semibreve rest 1
Half rest Minim rest ​1⁄2
Quarter rest Crotchet rest ​1⁄4
Eighth rest Quaver rest ​1⁄8
Sixteenth rest Semiquaver rest ​1⁄16
Thirty-second rest Demisemiquaver rest ​1⁄32
Sixty-fourth rest Hemidemisemiquaver rest ​1⁄64

Multiple bar rests

If a rest should last for multiple bars, it is shown by a thick horizontal line in the middle of the staff, with short vertical lines at each end. The number of bars of the rest is written over the top.


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