sixteenth rest: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Technical / Very LowTechnical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “sixteenth rest” mean?
A symbol in musical notation indicating silence for the duration of a sixteenth note.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A symbol in musical notation indicating silence for the duration of a sixteenth note.
It is the silence counterpart to a sixteenth note (semiquaver in British English), representing one-sixteenth of the duration of a whole note in common time. In musical practice, it often appears in rapid passages requiring precise rhythmic articulation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The note value it corresponds to has different names: 'semiquaver rest' (UK) vs. 'sixteenth rest' (US). The term 'sixteenth rest' itself is American English.
Connotations
Identical technical meaning; the difference is purely terminological.
Frequency
Within their respective dialects, both terms are used with 100% frequency in musical contexts. Outside music, neither term is used.
Grammar
How to Use “sixteenth rest” in a Sentence
The passage contains a sixteenth rest.Replace that note with a sixteenth rest.The rhythm is: eighth note, sixteenth rest, sixteenth note.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixteenth rest” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The composer chose to rest on the semiquaver.
adjective
British English
- The semiquaver-rest passage was tricky.
- He missed the semiquaver rest value.
American English
- The sixteenth-rest passage was tricky.
- He missed the sixteenth rest value.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in musicology, theory, and performance textbooks and lectures.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation except among musicians discussing specific scores.
Technical
Core term in music notation, essential for composers, arrangers, and performers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixteenth rest”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sixteenth rest”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixteenth rest”
- Misidentifying it as a thirty-second rest (which has three flags) or an eighth rest (one flag).
- Incorrectly drawing it (placement of the double flag on the stem).
- Pronouncing 'sixteenth' with stress on the first syllable (/ˈsɪks.tiːnθ/) instead of the second (/sɪksˈtiːnθ/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A sixteenth rest has two flags (or hooks) attached to its stem in standard notation.
Yes. A dotted sixteenth rest increases its duration by half, making it equivalent to a sixteenth rest plus a thirty-second rest.
No, the standard British term is 'semiquaver rest'. 'Sixteenth rest' is American musical terminology.
The sound equivalent is a sixteenth note (semiquaver), which is played for the same duration that the rest is silent.
A symbol in musical notation indicating silence for the duration of a sixteenth note.
Sixteenth rest is usually technical/formal in register.
Sixteenth rest: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksˈtiːnθ rest/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksˈtiːnθ rest/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rest with two flags, like a sixteenth note but with a 'hat' on. Think: '1/16th of a pie is a small slice, so a sixteenth rest is a very short silence.'
Conceptual Metaphor
SILENCE IS A MEASURABLE OBJECT (with duration and value). MUSICAL TIME IS SPACE (divided into fractions).
Practice
Quiz
What is the British English term for a 'sixteenth rest'?