Rock Lesson 2 - Adding Rests

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# Introducing Rests: Quarter Note Rest

So now we're going to introduce **rests**, in this case, the **quarter note rest**.

## The Importance of Rests

Rests are sometimes equally as important in music as the notes that we do play because we need to allow the music space to breathe a little bit. Sometimes some of the other instrumentalists might be playing in that part, and they don't want the drums.

### Being Comfortable with Spaces

- We need to be really comfortable with the spaces we're leaving.
- I really recommend counting through these exercises and just counting in general.

As you get more advanced, you'll probably want to count in your head rather than out loud. I mean, if I'm doing gigs or recording sessions, I don't count out loud, but I am always thinking about:
- The timing
- The counting
- The space between the rhythms

**Especially as the rhythms get a bit more syncopated**, where the rhythms are in unusual places or where the rests are. You want to count to keep that constant.

## Example 1: Adding a Rest

In example one, we're going to add a rest, a quarter note rest, to beat four.

- So again, we want to count, making sure that the rest lasts exactly the same amount of time as the notes that you're playing in the run-up to it.

Next, we're going to look at **moving the rest around**, perhaps putting it on beat two.

- Again, this is where your counting is very important, so you know where that is.
- You can also explore moving the rest between beat three, beat two, and beat four, getting comfortable with the space between what we're playing.

## Additional Example: Multiple Rests

We're also going to take another example where there are **two quarter note rests in a row**.

- Definitely count through those so that we don't squeeze that gap and come in too early with the next bar.

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