A half rest is a small rectangular block that sits on top the middle staff line. It is equal to the length of two quarter rests. It should be counted exactly the same as a half note, but since it is a rest, it represents silence.
The Half Rest
Here are some examples of half rests in different time signatures. Remember to keep counting during rests.
If we have three beats of silence in a measure of 4/4 time, we do not use a dotted half rest, but a combination of a half rest and a quarter rest. The following example demonstrates how three beats of silence would be indicated at the end of a measure and at the beginning of a measure.
