The Eighth Note

In the previous piano lessons we learned about the whole note, the half note and quarter note.

A whole note is a note that lasts four beats. We divided the four beats to two groups and each note (which lasted two beats) was called a half note.

We did the same with the quarter note and so each note quarter note lasts one count or beat.

Today I'd like to show you what happens when we divide a quarter note to two. When we divide a quarter note to two we create two equal eighth notes.

Two eighths are played at the same time of one quarter note.

However eighths might also appear singly. They will look like this:

We draw an eight note by filling up the circle in black and adding a one flag to the stem of the note.
When eighths are played in pair you'll see that both their stems are connected. You might even see two pairs of eighths connected together.

We count "one-and" "two-and" three-and" and so on for each group of two notes in a quarter note In order to be able to play the eighths rhythmically.

The Eighth Rest means you have to REST FOR THE VALUE of an EIGHTH NOTE.

In the rhythmic patterns below you'll see how a single eighth note are used with an eighth rest.

Check out these patterns. Try to count and clap along.

Here's a handy tip from me. When we count rhythm in a piece we always count according to the highest value of the denominator of the shortest notes in a piece. So let's say that before we start playing a piece we saw that the shortest notes of the pieces have eighths in the denominator.
We will start playing the piece while counting eighths the whole time through, even when we have quarter notes or half notes.
Why? because when we keep the same counting parameter we make sure that we keep the time accurately.

Here's the melody of a musical piece with eighths, Musette by Bach.
Let's try to play that one together.

These classical piano music pieces offer a variety of repertoire with eighths. Check them out on Ebay for the lowest prices you'll find on the net.

Why should you buy Easy Classical Piano Music on Ebay?

Here below you'll find great musical pieces with eighths.

Until today we learned to play melodies on the white keys and by now you're probably curious to know what's going on with the black keys. In the next piano lesson we will talk about the Black Keys Names.