How to use the rest symbols

• Mar 24, 2025 - 16:05

I am trying to transcribe some complex melody and have trouble making the various rest symbols go away or move to a different place in the measure. They seem to have a mind of their own. And work contrary to my aims.
I want to write : an eighth note, a sixteenth rest, a sixteenth note, an eighth note, a sixteenth rest, a sixteenth note, then a quarter note, an eighth note and an eighth rest.
The notes can be shifted up and down the scale but the rests play peek-a-boo with me the whole time.
What to do?


Comments

Working with a computer keyboard and numberpad, the sequence would be:
4, pitch
3, 0 (zero)
Pitch
4, pitch
3, 0
Pitch
5, pitch
4, pitch
0

That's no problem!
Input mode "Step time"
n - 4 - G - 3 - 0 - G - 4 - G - 3 - 0 - G - 5 - G - 4 - G - 0
(G is the note G, 0 is rest and 3, 4, 5 are the note or rest durations)

And for mousers.
N, enter eighth note
N, change eighth rest to two sixteenths
N, enter sixteenth note, then eighth note
N, change eighth rest to two sixteenths
N, enter sixteenth note, quarter note and eighth note

Normally you don't have to hit N so many times. but this is a particular set of rest and notes.

In reply to by rapidrain

Have you watched the Getting Started and Note Entry videos on You Tube?

There’s nothing special about rests. They’re simply placeholders where you don’t have notes. Enter notes into the measure from left to right, entering rests with the zero. Pay no attention to the rests to the right of where you are. They change, as you enter durations.

rapidrain, I’m happy to do a Zoom and show you how to do this.

In reply to by mikey12045

A zoom would be a good idea but my questions aren't that important. Treating the rest elements in the same way as using the notes is the secret I guess. I watched a video called "the basics...." and they really race through the explanation. I watched it but didn't hear a single word about 'rests' so I gave up there. Looking through contents of the new handbook for 4.5 I see nothing that relates to how one enters notes and rests. So many topics all miles above me and my simple needs.

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