How to Play a Sixteenth Note

A sixteenth note, also referred to as a semiquaver, is one of the smallest note durations. Four sixteenth notes are equal to the duration of a single quarter note making them one sixteenth of a whole note. Sixteenth notes are written as a solid oval note head with double flags to the right of the note stems. To play sixteenth notes properly, you must create a steady beat and count four beats per quarter note.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Metronome
• Keyboard

1. Read the time signature notated on your sheet music. For this example, a 2/4 time signature is used, and eight sixteenth notes are played. This time signature indicates that the quarter note sets the beat, and there are two beats per measure.

2. Start a metronome to the quarter note beat. To keep a steady beat without a metronome, repeat the phrase, "One-e-and-a, two-e-and-a" to set the quarter and sixteenth note beat.

3. Press your key on the count of "one," press again on "e," press again on "and," press again on "a." This completes the first four sixteenth notes that are equal to one quarter note beat.

4. Push your key on the count of "two," press again on "e," press again on "and," press again on "a." This completes the second four sixteenth notes, finishing the second quarter note beat.

Tips & Warnings

• When reading music, sixteenth notes that are played consecutively are beamed together. Instead of two flags on the note stem, there are two lines connecting the note stems together.
• If you set your metronome to the quarter note beat to play sixteenth notes, four notes are played per beat.
• A sixteenth rest looks similar to an eighth rest, just with an extra line to indicate the difference. When you come across a sixteenth rest while reading music, you refrain from playing for the same duration as a sixteenth note.
• Don't set your beat too fast to start. It is much easier to increase your speed if you correctly learn the notes at a slower pace.