How to count sixteenth notes ("1 e & a")
A sixteenth note is a quarter of a beat in 4/4 time. Four of them fill one beat, and they are counted "1 e & a" (say "one ee and uh"). The number falls on the beat, the "&" exactly halfway, and "e" and "a" in between.
4
4
4
1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a
The common sixteenth figures
Almost every sixteenth-note rhythm is built from a handful of one-beat figures. Learn them as shapes, the way you learn words instead of letters.
| Figure | Counted | Played on |
|---|---|---|
| four sixteenths | 1 e & a | all four |
| eighth + two sixteenths | 1 – & a | 1, &, a |
| two sixteenths + eighth | 1 e & – | 1, e, & |
| sixteenth-eighth-sixteenth | 1 e – a | 1, e, a |
| dotted eighth + sixteenth | 1 – – a | 1, a |
| sixteenth rest + three sixteenths | – e & a | e, &, a |
4
4
4
1&a2&a3e&4e&
4
4
4
1ea2ea3a4a
4
4
4
1e&a2e&3ea4a
Step by step
- Count first, then clap. Say "1 e & a" steadily with the metronome before you play anything.
- Clap only the notes, but keep saying every syllable.
- Start at 60 BPM or slower. Sixteenths at 60 BPM are four notes per second.
- Mind the rests. A rest on "1" is the hardest case – say the "1" quietly and come in on the "e".
Practice
▶ Random sixteenth figures on the beat (level 3)
▶ All sixteenth figures (level 5)
More levels are explained under sixteenth-note exercises.
FAQ
Why "e" and "a"?
They are simply easy syllables that keep the four notes even. Some teachers use "1 ta & ta" or "1 ee and ah"; the system matters less than saying it consistently.
How do I count sixteenths in 6/8?
In 6/8 the eighth note is the beat unit, so a sixteenth is half a beat: "1 & 2 & 3 &".