Rests

"Rests" represent silence or where notes are not played / sustained. So, a "whole note rest" equals four beats of silence. A "half note rest" is given a value of two beats (like the half note.) A "quarter note rest" is given the value of one beat of silence and a "sixteenth note rest" is given a quarter beat of silence. Rests can also be "dotted" and are given the same values as dotted notes. The diagrams below illustrate their symbols.

Sixteenth Rest	Eighth Rest	Quarter Rest	Half Rest	Whole Rest

1/4 Beat	1/2 Beat	1 Beat	2 Beats	4 Beats

Rests are beats, like notes, but they are beats of silence. Observe them as carefully as you do notes