# Sixteenth notes

*Module 11 · Lesson 1: Rhythm II · BazzLow*

> Count and play sixteenth notes and the common figures made from them.

Before this lesson: [2.6 Dots and ties](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/dots-and-ties/)

Eighth notes split the beat in two. Sixteenth notes split it in four, and a large part of funk and rock bass playing lives there.

## Four to a beat

With a quarter-note beat, **four sixteenth notes** fill one beat. Count them **“1 e & a, 2 e & a…”**, said “one-ee-and-uh”. This division of the beat is a **subdivision**. Sixteenths are beamed with **two beams**, usually in groups of four, one beat at a time.

## Common figures

*Common one-beat figures made from sixteenth notes.*

| Figure | Count | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| four sixteenths | 1 e & a | — |
| eighth + two sixteenths | 1 & a | “gallop” |
| two sixteenths + eighth | 1 e & | — |
| dotted eighth + sixteenth | 1 a | long–short |
| sixteenth + dotted eighth | 1 e | short–long |
| sixteenth + eighth + sixteenth | 1 e a | syncopated |

> **Diagram:** The six figures, each one beat long, with their counts: four sixteenths (1 e & a); eighth and two sixteenths (1 & a, the “gallop rhythm”); two sixteenths and an eighth (1 e &); dotted eighth and sixteenth (1 a); sixteenth and dotted eighth (1 e); sixteenth, eighth and sixteenth (1 e a).

Sixteenth rests replace any of these notes. In funk bass, rests and very short notes are as important as the notes played.

## Practise slowly

At 60 BPM, sixteenths are 4 notes per second. Start slow. The pulse below clicks on the beats and, more quietly, on every sixteenth.

> **Diagram:** A visual pulse with four dots, one per beat, and a quiet click on each sixteenth. Press Start, set the tempo with the slider, and use Sound to mute the click. It never starts by itself.

## Try it

At 60 BPM, play each figure on the open A for 4 bars, counting aloud. Then build a bar by choosing four different figures.

## New terms

- sixteenth note
- subdivision
- gallop rhythm

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-2/sixteenth-notes/