1. Melodic, Harmonic, and Rhythmic Dictation
  2. Module 1: Simple Meters

Module 1: Simple Meters

Durational values are indicated using a system of symbols that show the relationships of notes to each other: each note value is equal to one half of the next larger value and twice the next smallest value. As note values get smaller, the system continues indefinitely, with each successively smaller note value adding one flag (or beam). In practice, one rarely sees note values shorter than the sixty-fourth note.

a. Simple Beats and Their First Division and Multiple Note Values

Rhythm 1A-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. The beat-note value is a quarter note.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Tap the beat while you listen.
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm, without barlines.
    4. Rhythm_1A-1B

Rhythm 1A-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. The beat-note value is a quarter note.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Tap the beat while you listen.
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm, without barlines.
    4. Rhythm_1A-2B

b. Simple Duple and Quadruple Meters

Rhythm 1B-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1B-1B

Rhythm 1B-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1B-2B

Rhythm 1B-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1B-3B

Rhythm 1B-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1B-4B

Rhythm 1B-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1B-5B

c. Simple Triple Meter

Rhythm 1C-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1C-1B

Rhythm 1C-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1C-2B

Rhythm 1C-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1C-3B

Rhythm 1C-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1C-4B

Rhythm 1C-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 6
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1C-5B

d. Second Division and Multiple of the Beat in Simple Meters

Rhythm 1D-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1D-1B

Rhythm 1D-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1D-2B

Rhythm 1D-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1D-3B

Rhythm 1D-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1D-4B

Rhythm 1D-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1D-5B

e. Rests

Rhythm 1E-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 7
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1E-1B

Rhythm 1E-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1E-2B

Rhythm 1E-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1E-3B

Rhythm 1E-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1E-4B

Rhythm 1E-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 10
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1E-5B

f. Ties and Dotted Rhythms in Simple Meters

Rhythm 1F-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1F-1B

Rhythm 1F-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1F-2B

Rhythm 1F-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1F-3B

Rhythm 1F-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1F-4B

Rhythm 1F-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1F-5B

g. The Anacrusis

Rhythm 1G-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1G-1B

Rhythm 1G-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1G-2B

Rhythm 1G-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1G-3B

Rhythm 1G-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 13
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1G-4B

Rhythm 1G-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_1G-5B

h. Less Common Simple Meters

Rhythm 1H-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. It is written in 2/2.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    3. 4
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    4. Rhythm_1H-1B
  4. Next, notate the rhythm in 2/8.
    5. Rhythm_1H-1C

Rhythm 1H-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. It is written in 3/8.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    3. 8
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    4. Rhythm_1H-2B
  4. Next, notate the rhythm in 3/2.
    5. Rhythm_1H-2C

Rhythm 1H-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm. It is written in 4/8.
  2. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    3. 4
  3. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    4. Rhythm_1H-3B
  4. Next, notate the rhythm in 4/2.
    5. Rhythm_1H-3C
  1. Prepare your work space. Give yourself plenty of blank measures on a clean sheet of manuscript paper.
  2. Listen. Do not try to write while listening. Just listen.
  3. Listen again. Try to pick up the beat and determine whether it is divided simply (into two pieces) or compound (into three pieces).
  4. Determine meter by listening for patterns of strong and weak beats. Also listen for rhythmic clues such as longer notes (often, but not always, on strong beats) and harmonic changes accompanying the underlying melody (most music changes chords at a rate of one chord per measure). Come up with a logical meter signature.
  5. Verify your meter signature by singing or listening to the rhythm again.
  6. Listen again. Take a shorthand rhythmic notation as you listen or sing back the melody. Make sure you jump to each new measure as it occurs. If you get stuck in a measure, skip it and go back to finish it up on the next hearing.
  7. Translate your shorthand notation to standard notation.
  8. Double check your answer by singing what you have written and comparing it to what you remember.