Sixteenth Note Rhythms
This is a sixteenth note.
It lasts for one quarter of a beat.
There are four sixteenth notes in one beat.
There are sixteen sixteenth notes in one bar of * time.
The following example has three beats of sixteenth notes followed by one beat of eighth notes. Alternate picking is used when playing sixteenth notes.
As with any new note value or rhythm, it is a good idea to practice scales and arpeggios using sixteenth notes. The following example shows pattern 1 of the G major scale played in sixteenth notes.
Common Sixteenth Note Figures
Sixteenth notes are commonly used within a beat in conjunction with eighth notes. The following examples demonstrate the Blues scales of F and D using common rhythmic figures. It is a good idea to practice all your scales and arpeggios using these rhythms.
Here is a bass line which makes use of the two rhythms you have just learned. As you will hear, this one is "Funky". Most Funk music is based on an underlying rhythm of sixteenth notes.
Here are four more important sixteenth note figures. Practice each on one note and then use them to play arpeggios and scales. When you are confident with each rhythm, try improvising with it. The first one contains a dotted eighth note. Remember that a dot increases the value of a note by half, so the dotted eighth note is worth three quarters of a beat.
This one contains two sixteenth notes and an eighth note. You may find these rhythms difficult at first but they are all important, so stick with it. Use a metronome as you practice them and count out loud as you play. If you are tapping your foot, make sure it taps only on each beat and not in between.
The next two rhythms involve the use of sixteenth note rests. Once again take them slowly at first, count out loud and use a metronome.
Another way of gaining control of sixteenth note rhythms is to play constant sixteenth notes with the right hand and to articulate the rhythms with the left hand, playing the rests as ghost notes as shown in the following example.
Here are two more sixteenth note based lines making use of the rhythms and techniques you have been learning.
To finish this lesson, here is a 12 Bar Blues solo based on a sixteenth note rhythm and using most of the things you have learned so far. The double notes in bar 2 are played with the i and m fingers together.
