Your Classical Guitar Input Here

Rests Under Notes

Can someone please explain why, in classical guitar, a rest is put underneath a note, where you are playing only single notes? For example, a four-beat measure comprised of two sets of eighth notes and there are two quarter rests in the measure, the first after the first set of 8th notes, the second at the beginning of the second set of 8th notes? How can you rest and play the notes at the same time!

Hi,

The rests under notes are where the bass (usually) have a rerst and only the melody is played. So, only parts of the chord are played. As you probably knoe you can play 6 note chords (6 strings) but sometimes only part of the chords or melody are played and the bass line or other harmony have rests. I hope this makes sense.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.