Rests
A rest is a measured silence. Each note value has a matching rest of the same length.
Rests explained
- Whole rest
- A filled rectangle hanging below the fourth line. Lasts four beats, or a whole bar of silence.
- Half rest
- A filled rectangle sitting on top of the middle line, lasting two beats. The mirror image of the whole rest.
- Quarter rest
- A single beat of silence — the squiggle shape most people picture when they think of a rest.
- Eighth rest
- Half a beat of silence, drawn with one flag.
- Sixteenth rest
- A quarter of a beat of silence, drawn with two flags.
Rests — frequently asked questions
What rests are used in sheet music?
This page covers 5: Whole rest, Half rest, Quarter rest, Eighth rest, Sixteenth rest.
What does the whole rest symbol mean?
A filled rectangle hanging below the fourth line. Lasts four beats, or a whole bar of silence.
What does the half rest symbol mean?
A filled rectangle sitting on top of the middle line, lasting two beats. The mirror image of the whole rest.
What does the quarter rest symbol mean?
A single beat of silence — the squiggle shape most people picture when they think of a rest.
What does the eighth rest symbol mean?
Half a beat of silence, drawn with one flag.
Is the rests chart free to print?
Yes — print it or download the PDF or PNG for free, with no sign-up.