Understanding Rhythm (Beginner Piano Theory)

Understanding rhythm is one of the most fundamental building blocks for any musician. When sight reading, there are a million things to think about. What are the left hand notes, what are the right hand notes, and how do you coordinate them to work together?!
When you are processing all of that information, the last thing you want to have to do is struggle to understand the rhythm you need to play it in.
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ABOUT LISA:
Lisa Witt has been teaching piano for +20 years and in that time has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn to play the songs they love. Lisa received classical piano training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, but she has since embraced popular music and playing by ear in order to accompany herself and others. She is a songwriter and recording artist. Lisa’s contagious enthusiasm will have you excited to practice and return to the keys for your next lesson. Her teaching style focuses on you, making lessons encouraging and fun.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Ready to level up your playing? Get personal coaching tips and structured lessons: enjoy your free 7-day trial to Pianote! ► www.pianote.com/trial

[@rykerbooth9169]

For years I’ve struggled to read music and it always kept me from playing instruments! You explain things so clearly and I finally am starting to understand.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Very happy to share some experience! Playing an instrument should be fun and rewarding, not a chore!

[@bolao7386]

your explanation is like light shining in dark places...

[@shreyashshankar9819]

Exactly Bolarinwa!!

[@hashmycat1175]

R u dumb?

[@goldlessen2438]

@@hashmycat1175 Hes not dumb.

[@onimisilovesonmusic4548]

Extremely

[@llopez6109]

You just became my sons music teacher while I navigate working from home and baby

[@demon3476]

Refreshing memories I forgot I had stored from elementary school band classes! So excited to read and play sheet music here soon. Looking forward to the rest of your channel!

[@jessica5497]

Im trying to learn piano on my own i cant count how many times i saw myself watching videos on this channel, truly a gift...and you're such a good teacher!

[@aurora.a6645]

BRAVISSIMA! I like your explanations, you are sooo smart and clear minded!! A pleasure to learn with you!!!

[@burreifort]

I believe the correct expression will be: ... learn from you.

[@Universe2929]

GREAT THANK MAM - Shrirang Kshatriya, Keyboard Student Mumbai Maharashtra India

[@mysterymuzangaza1524]

Your lessons are simple and clear. Thanks so much.

[@cathypoulin6908]

You are really good at helping to remember. Wow, love it. Thank you.

[@julierene76]

We absolutely love your lessons. You are a blessing

[@kingshahzad78]

You are the real miracles for learners. Stay blessed.

[@pictures4urears]

Incredible explanation. Thank you very much.

[@steveapplegate322]

You are such a good teacher thank you.

[@fallen969]

I love her videos, makes learning super easy and fun and pleasant.

[@vishalsahi8289]

You are amazing its really helpful Thanks for lesson

[@Donna_R.S.1167]

soooo good....thanks for the tip

[@deniselockhart2882]

I see this lesson is from 4 yrs ago but it is very helpful to me today. I'm self-teaching X a few years. I read my beginner's book but it is so much more helpful to hear an expert explain how

[@praveent8036]

Thank you it was realy helpfull

[@haniyezarghampayam7800]

Thank you!

[@gersonduran4451]

Thanks for what you do. God bless you!

[@TheMagnel777]

Brilliant!

[@destined121]

Thank you!🙏🏿

[@The_New_Abnormal_World_Order]

I recently started to learn the keyboard, many years ago I played some recorder and guitar but never mastered reading music. I feel very passionate and enthusiastic right now but I feel like I am a slow learner, and the breadth of information I want and need to learn is a bit overwhelming, I'm teaching myself and don't have a teacher yet... so basically I just want to say, I really appreciate this video it is SO helpful!!!!!! There are many videos relating to music on KZbin but a lot of them are confusing, even the ones that say they are for beginners often assume one knows various things already. This seems like a great channel!!

[@mattttttscotttttt]

I agree, I really enjoy her clarity as well. I'm also a slow learner and brand new to this,looking at multiple different teachers on youtube.

[@LionofJudahministriesintl]

One of the best explanation

[@ArronHandmusic]

really helpful! Thanks.

[@khurono3551]

Before I know how to play the piano I didn't understand how to read it and it was so complicated. The moment I bought a piano I was so eager to know how to read musical notes. And then, I watch multiple videos and now I know how to read musical note. Its the same as how to read your alphabet in kindergarten but in musical. So in terms of music, I'm actually a kindergarten who graduated because I know now how to read music notes. It fills me up with knowledge.

[@yadinmichaeli12]

Amazing explain thank you very much! :)

[@shyambahri2709]

Very nicely explained, to understand.

[@liyakatbawade3546]

Beautiful explanation thanx

[@jimtessin4130]

Excellent!!! Thank you!!!!!

[@mwpoppy7162]

Thank you….I really like your teaching style

[@Chaitanyapmehra]

Thank u dear

[@bdpproject]

I like your teachings. You are patient, clear and your voice is pleasant to the ear.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Thank you!

[@davidungacta3980]

I like you and your style.

[@leoraj3059]

Your explanation is very beautifully like you

[@plok3433]

I am a student in music and this is the most simplest explanation and best example. Being in college I truly love the philosophy and highly advanced music theory Wisdom my professor have but it is extremely mentally draining can quickly can get lost. like it also does not help when They are monotone through lectures either :l.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Thank you so much!

[@mebankernanglein7603]

Thank you so much ❤️❤️ I listened to your lesson now im buying a piano

[@sudhirpatel4050]

Your Explanation is like blessings....

[@MrJohnnykhoo88]

Thank you Teacher Lisa that nice

[@mrvinodmn007]

Thank you

[@zay2b274]

great teacher ❤️❤️❤️

[@anishkumar-ze8jn]

thank you 💓

[@pattirowland4782]

Brilliant. I didn't realize those bars are eight notes. Your videos are so helpful, convincing me I should sign up for the app.

[@atphack]

Thanks a lot, very helpful. And you are very beautiful too XD, continue like that

[@LLO227]

Good to know

[@shreyaz9497]

It makes all the lessons i learn at school more clearer

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci beaucoup. As a retired adult, you really talk to the kid that is still inside of me.

[@view5558]

For the first time I have started making sense of musical script.

[@tosinkuti8908]

You're literally a hidden gem

[@ameerasialofficial]

Thank you so much MAM💞💞💞💞

[@mick_hyde]

Thanks.

[@mikemartin6323]

thamk you so much

[@Ntm.11]

Your the best lifesaver

[@yousifmohamad6161]

thank you

[@parth123ify]

Loved this lesson!!! Could you please make a video on playing these notes with a beat on piano. Thanks!

[@AyeAye-mw1wj]

Thank you for your teaching

[@samsonbolaji_kol]

Am new to the piano system but I must say you are one of the best piano teacher

[@PianoteOfficial]

Thanks! 😃

[@shubhrachowdhury4675]

Very good

[@tea1663]

this helped me allot :D

[@robinsonchristian702]

Very Nice..

[@rogationruta4623]

Thanks madam your so intelligent ❤️

[@nazmullamia610]

Thanks it helped me a lot .But can you make a video on how to read notes which has lines over it?

[@lauramaqueira2531]

I love your videos but I want to go through all of them. Is there a way to watch them in a chronological order? Do you have like a index? Thank you

[@tthompson4044]

Very helpful idk why Im finding it so hard to understand when reading this information in a book 😂

[@kumardeepakofficial8890]

So sweet

[@Pro-Skillzz]

Quarter Note - 1:00 Half Note - 1:28 Whole Note - 2:15 Eighth Note - 3:42 Dotted Half Note - 5:18 Dotted Quarter Note - 7:03

[@Airestotle09]

Or just watch the video as a whole so its easier to learn

[@marinette5473]

@@Airestotle09 maybe some people know some and they want to know some others

[@himandarin]

Thank you Lisa from Beijing.

[@yudipitre5720]

Nice

[@Rehab_nmy]

Wow thank you 🤧❤️❤️,I was really dying 😂🙏🏿🙏🏿🇿🇦

[@burreifort]

thank you for your great videos. I am 42 and I am learning piano for the first time. Can you number your videos so we know what to follow next? Thank you.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Welcome to the piano! We don't number of videos on KZbin because they aren't in any particular order. And there are big gaps so I can't suggest a learning path that is incomplete. Honestly, that's what our membership site is for - www.pianote.com It's over 100 step-by-step lessons in perfect order. If you're just starting I'd suggest our free beginner series here: www.pianote.com/getting-started Good luck!!

[@t-gsd4074]

Love u....

[@WuHeDo]

can one say that dotted quarter note is a half note for simplicity ? or would that be wrong? because they have the same value, just like dotted half note is like half note + quarter note for simplicity?

[@hrithikhegde684]

Hello @pianote! I'm new to playing piano and I'm passionate about it...but I don't know where to begin exactly...which KZbin video to start from...please help me out. Thank you!

[@PianoteOfficial]

Welcome! Start with this beginner series: www.pianote.com/getting-started It was created just for beginners like you!

[@luigi95-]

Amen

[@korosenaiGames]

is there a video she posted this where she plays examples of these on the piano. like these specificly. im having a hard time understanding fully

[@badspider17]

great video, do you have any other video regarding rythm ? while u play them on piano ? instead of clapping

[@PianoteOfficial]

We sure do! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bneboYOdi8upmck

[@ariharana7467]

Lovely explanations ❤️

[@asmarinodude]

you're amazing!

[@jeremybenson5782]

I had a hard time learning rhythm on piano. Even after watching videos, nothing. I spent 1 hour on the cheapest MPC you can buy, after putting a progression on 4 pads. BAM! I instantly understood. It unlocked my mind. If you don't want to buy one, just watch someone play a chord progression to a beat. I don't have a teacher, but I think if a drum beat was included, it would help students too.

[@hasithachandimal6213]

0:49 i see where dua lipa got the song idea for 'new rules'.. well played madam

[@seraphim6364]

I’m connecting the dots 🧠 ....literally

[@lethiapage4767]

My trouble with reading rhythms that I haven't heard before is ties, and counting through measures. But its always interesting to see music written out that I know because its like oh yeah that does make sense. It might help to know this stuff is all mathematical...if yo have trouble with either rhythmic notation or fractions try to apply your confidence about one to the other.

[@PianoteOfficial]

That's a good way of thinking about it! So many people learn different ways.

[@AyeAye-mw1wj]

I’m learning piano

[@genfore21]

I like this lady.

[@seifnaguib1]

7:04 I'm confused. Won't this mean it would be " One and Two" where the qurater note is held for "One and", and the Eigth note is played on "Two"?

[@PianoteOfficial]

That would be true if it was just a quarter note, because a quarter note lasts the entire One-and. But this one is a DOTTED Quarter note (see the little dot next to it?). That means it lasts for a quarter note PLUS an eight note.

[@mariz1968]

Why is it resulted in two though? I get it. From dotted half note which resulted in 3. 2 + 1 = 3 From dotted quarter note which resulted in 1 and 1/2. But why add another quarter note?

[@seifnaguib1]

Etienne I believe that it has to complete whole beats. You can’t leave it hanging on half a beat. I guess it’s ok. I don’t think it is theoretically wrong. I think would just not sound as good as it should. I’m guessing btw; I’m a beginner myself as well

[@parisanazemi]

You're right, thanks for mentioning that ....its one and two, there is a mistake in the video

[@z-man7883]

I’ve seen 12 1/8 notes crammed into a 4/4 measure before and that just threw me off. Could they be 1/16 notes?

[@pushtotek8201]

Nice drawing

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

What about 1/16th notes, Lisa?

[@stillhere1502]

your explanation is like light pooping in dark places

[@ascape21]

Hello, I really like to learn on how to play piano but I don't know where to start. Can you help me? I mean, will it be okay to share your piano lesson videos in sequence? Thank You

[@PianoteOfficial]

Hi April! We actually have a FREE beginner course just for people who want to start: www.pianote.com/getting-started

[@ascape21]

@@PianoteOfficial Thank you so much.

[@sampooranarani212]

🤩

[@kinnycollection934]

I wish you were my Piano teacher👩‍🏫‍

[@snakeholetoes]

I don't have piano, keyboard, and such. I've never even touch one, but I find these piano theory in this channel interesting, I feel kinda cool knowing these things.

[@newtoatheism5968]

Rythm is my arch nemisis I don’t know how to write it into music I’m not sure what the notation is for triad chords either

[@AirborneGeek]

you deserve millions of views

[@PianoteOfficial]

We do our best :)

[@onje1994]

6.24 in and it just clicked, I can read now slowly but I can read 🙂

[@iam90skid]

love you didi

[@rdxaj996]

Awesome thanks..

[@andrewglagau8685]

I'm not sure how this would go with piano as I've just began to learn piano, but when I was learning the bass, I've learnt to pencil small vertical lines under the down beat notes and pat your hand on your lap while having the other hand above which gives you the up beat. I found this really handy when it comes to working out how to play difficult patterns using dotted 8th followed by a 16th note and in a row it would be a shuffle. However, when working with bars that have 8th and 16 notes I put 8 pencil lines per bar so there's no other way to go but up or down. So if I could say something like: Da Da Da Da Da etc... Once I've worked out the meter (note) pattern, I find the notes on the bass then put them together.