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Rests in 4/4 Time
Rests in music can be thought of as notes you don't hear. They are symbols for measured silence. Rests should not be thought of as pauses or place-holders. Thinking of "playing" the rests will help you maintain their rhythmic values.
The above rests, from left to right, are: Whole Rest, Half Rest, Quarter Rest, Eighth Rest, Sixteenth Rest.
The Whole Rest is worth a whole measure of silence, and is commonly defined as being worth 4 counts in 4/4 time since it is paired in name with the Whole Note. However, no matter what the time signature may be, a Whole Rest is worth an entire measure of silence.
The other rests are worth the same values as their names imply. In 4/4 time Half Rests are worth 2, Quarter Rests are worth 1, Eighth Rests are worth 1/2, and Sixteenth Rests are worth 1/4 count.
Rests may be dotted or may be used in sequence to add to a desired duration. The use of dots or multiple rests is chosen by the publisher and/or composer.
A dot behind (on the right) of a rest adds half of the rest's original value onto itself. Therefore, a dotted half rest is worth 3 counts in 4/4 time. The original half rest is worth 2 counts in 4/4 time, the added dot is worth half of that equalling 1 count. 2+1=3. A dotted half rest is worth 3 counts in 4/4 time. Dots behind rests do not add 1 count unless the example is that of a dotted half rest. In this example, a composer or publisher might just as well use a half rest and quarter rest in sequence.
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