Theory Study

Compiled ABRSM Grades 1-5 exam materials covering notes, rhythm, scales, chords and all major exam topics for easy reference and efficient preparation.

Contents

1. Note Values 2. Bars and Time Signatures 3. Pitch Names 4. Staves and Clefs 5. Staff Notation 6. Ledger Lines 7. Sharps, Flats, and Naturals 8. Semitones, Whole Tones, and the C Major Scale 9. G Major, D Major, and F Major Scales 10. Rests 11. Ties and Dots 12. Tonality and Key Signatures 13. Accidentals 14. Scale Degrees 15. Tonic Chords 16. Intervals 17. Beaming Notes within a Bar 18. Performance Directions

ABRSM Grade 1 Knowledge Points

Knowledge Point 10: Rests

We must accurately measure the duration of silences in music, just as we measure the length of sounds. We call the symbols that indicate the duration of a silence rests.Just as we have symbols that indicate note values, we likewise have symbols that indicate rest values. Figure 24 shows the rests that will be used in the Grade 1 course:

Figure 24: Notes illustration

The whole rest and the half rest look very similar, but the whole rest is written below the line, while the half rest is written above the line. Generally, the whole rest is written below the 4th line, and the half rest is written above the 3rd line, as shown in Figure 25:

Figure 25: Illustration

The positions of the other rests are as follows (unless there is a particular reason for them to be placed higher or lower), as shown in Figure 26:

Figure 26: Illustration

A completely silent bar can be indicated by a whole rest — not only in 4/4 time, but also in 2/4 and 3/4 time.

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