Sixteenth-Note Rhythm and Subdivision

Dividing the Beat into Four

A sixteenth note divides one beat into four equal parts.

In 4/4 time, each measure holds 16 sixteenth notes. We count them as: 1-e-and-a-2-e-and-a-3-e-and-a-4-e-and-a.

Sixteenth notes move twice as fast as eighth notes and four times as fast as quarter notes. They appear frequently in funk, R&B, and Latin styles.

Mixing quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes within a single measure creates the rhythmic complexity that makes music feel alive and expressive.

Sixteenth-Note Groupings

Study this pattern featuring sixteenth note groupings in 4/4 time. Notice how the subdivisions create a denser, more driving feel than eighth notes alone.

Perform Sixteenth-Note Rhythms

• Count 1-e-and-a for each beat to internalize the sixteenth-note grid
• Start at a very slow tempo — sixteenth notes are challenging at speed
• Tap one hand for the beat while the other hand plays the rhythm
• Gradually increase tempo only when the pattern feels comfortable