Quarter rest: symbol and how many beats it gets
A quarter rest is a zigzag squiggle in the middle of the staff. In 4/4 it lasts 1 beat, the same as a quarter note. In British English it is a crotchet rest. You count it silently, tapping your foot as usual.
The quarter rest is the most common rest in music. It looks like a vertical squiggle or zigzag, and it stands for one beat of silence in 4/4. Because the quarter note is the usual beat, the quarter rest is the symbol you will see most often when the music stops for a moment before carrying on.
What does a quarter rest look like?
A quarter rest is a thin, jagged vertical symbol that starts near the top of the staff and winds down to a small curl at the bottom. It sits in the middle of the staff and takes up about three spaces in height. It is made in one stroke, a little like a lightning bolt or a letter Z followed by a curl.
How many beats does a quarter rest get?
In 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4, the quarter rest gets 1 beat, the same as a quarter note. That means four quarter rests fill a 4/4 measure and three fill a 3/4 measure. Two eighth rests, one after the other, add up to the same length.
In 2/2 time a quarter rest gets only half a beat, since the half note is the beat there. In 6/8, a quarter rest lasts the same as two eighth notes, which is two thirds of a dotted-quarter beat. The symbol is the same in all of these; only the count changes.
| Time signature | Beat note | Length of a quarter rest |
|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | Quarter | 1 beat |
| 3/4 | Quarter | 1 beat |
| 2/2 (cut time) | Half | 1/2 beat |
| 6/8 | Dotted quarter | 2/3 beat |
How to count a quarter rest
Say the number of the beat in your head and make no sound. In 4/4, if the rest is on beat 2, you count "1 (2) 3 4" with the 2 silent. A good habit is to keep your foot tapping, and to whisper the count at first. The rest is a silent beat, not a missing one.
- Keep a steady foot tap and count "1 2 3 4."
- Play a note on 1 and rest on 2.
- Say "2" silently, or whisper it, while your foot taps.
- Come in on 3 exactly on time.
Practice trick: Clap on the notes and open your hands wide on the rests, as if saying "nothing here." The movement keeps the beat alive in your body during the silence.
Other ways to write one beat of silence
One beat of silence in 4/4 can be written as one quarter rest or as two eighth rests. It could also be an eighth rest and two sixteenth rests, or four sixteenth rests. All of these last the same time. Composers choose the version that makes the beats easiest to see.
Dotted quarter rest
A dot adds half the value, so a dotted quarter rest lasts 1 and a half beats. It is often followed by an eighth note, mirroring the long-short pattern of the dotted quarter note.
Quarter rest, crotchet rest and other names
In British English, the quarter rest is a crotchet rest. A crotchet is a quarter note. The symbol is the same everywhere.
How the quarter rest relates to other rests
Four quarter rests equal one whole rest, and two equal one half rest. Its matching sound is the quarter note. To see it next to every other rest symbol, visit the rests page.
Quarter rests are the heartbeat of many rhythm patterns. In a simple march, for example, a quarter rest on beat 4 gives the pattern room to breathe before it starts again. In pop and rock, a short quarter rest after a strong chord makes the next entrance feel sharper and more exciting.
When you first read music with rests, it helps to say the beat numbers out loud, including the silent ones. Over time you can count in your head, but the habit of keeping the beat going through every rest is what makes a rhythm feel steady and professional.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the count during the rest. The beat still passes, so stay with your foot.
- Confusing it with an eighth rest, which looks like a slash with a small flag.
- Entering too early after the rest. Wait for the next beat.
Next, compare the notes with the page on note values or try reading a full line with the guide on how to read sheet music.
Check yourself
1. How many beats does a quarter rest get in 4/4?
Answer: 1. A quarter rest matches the quarter note, which gets one beat.
2. What is the British name for a quarter rest?
Answer: Crotchet rest. Crotchet is the British name for the quarter note, and so for its rest.
3. How many quarter rests fill one measure of 4/4?
Answer: 4. Each lasts one beat and a measure of 4/4 has four beats.
4. What should you do during a quarter rest?
Answer: Stay silent and keep counting. The beat continues during a rest, so you count it silently.
5. How many beats of silence are in this measure?
Answer: 2. Two quarter rests last two beats, and the other two beats have notes.