Table of Contents
12. Ties & 16th Notes
Theory Lesson: Holding Over and Playing Fast
Sometimes a song needs a note to ring out from one measure all the way into the next. Other times, you need to play super-fast notes that fly by in a blur. To do both of these things, we use two new tools: The Tie and The 16th Note.
The Tie (Connecting the Dots)
A tie is a curved line that connects two notes of the exact same pitch.
When you see two notes tied together, you do not press the key twice. You press it on the first note, and hold it down for the combined time of both notes.
Why not just write a longer note? Because you can't draw a single note across a bar line! If a composer wants a sound to start at the end of measure one and carry over into measure two, they have to use a tie to bridge the gap.
16th Notes & Rests (Quadruple Speed)
If an eighth note splits a beat in half, a 16th Note splits it into four pieces! It takes four fast 16th notes to equal a single quarter-note beat. Visually, a single 16th note has two little flags on its stem. When they are grouped together, those flags turn into a double beam.
To count a group of four 16th notes out loud, we say: "1 e and a" (pronounced "one ee and uh").
Just like notes, there is also a 16th Rest, which has two little hooks. This means a tiny, lightning-fast fraction of a beat of silence—it really tests your reflexes!
Self-Check Questions
- Question: You see two half notes connected by a curved tie line. Do you strike the key once or twice?
Click to reveal answer
Answer: You strike it only once, and hold it down for 4 beats total (2 + 2). - Question: How many 16th notes does it take to equal the time of a single half note?
Click to reveal answer
Answer: Eight! (There are four 16th notes in one beat, and a half note is two beats long). - Question: Visually, what is the quickest way to tell the difference between a group of eighth notes and a group of 16th notes?
Click to reveal answer
Answer: Eighth notes are connected by a single beam, while 16th notes are connected by a double beam.
Practice Session: Precision Timing
The Goal: Train your hands to hold notes without re-striking them, and shift gears into high speed without losing the beat.
The Execution: Open JazzPianoLab and run through these Rhythm exercises:
- 12.1 Ties: The Math Test: Play different note values tied together. The challenge is adding the beats together in your head while only pressing the key once.
- 12.2 Ties: Crossing the Line: Practice holding tied notes smoothly across the bar line from one measure right into the next.
- 12.3 16th Notes: Speed Shifting: Alternate between quarter, eighth, and 16th notes to feel your hands move twice, then four times as fast as the metronome click.
- 12.4 16th Rests: Micro-Pauses: Play tricky patterns mixed with tiny 16th rests. You have to be super quick to catch these silences!
Don't have JazzPianoLab yet?
Reading about theory is only half the battle. To truly learn sight-reading, your hands need to react instantly. Plug in your MIDI keyboard and let our interactive engine guide you through these exact exercises.
Start 7-Day Free Trial (No Credit Card)Ready to build your musical foundation?
Unlock Interactive Practice for this course and the entire JazzPianoLab training library today.