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7.1 What is a pickup note?
7.1 What is a pickup note?
When a composer begins the music with an incomplete measure, meaning that there are not enough beats in that measure to equal what the time signature requires, this is referred to as a pickup measure or pickup notes.
In the example below, you will see that the first measure only has three beats in it, but the time signature calls for four beats per measure. Those three quarter notes are called pickup notes.
The next example has a time signature of three beats per measure, but the first measure only includes two eighth notes, or one entire beat. Those eighth notes are called pickup notes.
In a piece of music that begins with pickup notes, you will notice that last measure of the work is also incomplete. The missing beats from the pickup measure are found in the last measure of the music.
So, if a piece has four beats per measure, and begins with a one beat pickup note, the last measure will have 3 beats in it. 1 + 3 = 4
The example below begins with a one beat pickup measure. The last measure only has a dotted half note in it, lasting 3 beats. 1 + 3 = 4
7.2 One beat pickup measures
7.2 One beat pickup measures
We will begin learning how to count pickup measures with examples that have pickup beats that are one count in length.
Let's work through an example together.
We need to tackle the pickup measure first. There are two ways you can go about figuring out the counts for the pick up measure. The first is to figure how many beats are in that measure. Then, you label the notes backwards. This exercise has two beats per measure. The pickup measure has one beat in it. We count the measures 1 2, so if we are working backwards, that quarter note is going to get the count 2.
Another way is to start with the last measure. Write the counts in for the last measure.
Then countinue writing the counts for that measure, but jump to the pickup measure to do so.
Finally, write counts in for the rest of the measures.
Count and clap the exercise.
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.1
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.1
One beat pickup measures
7.3 Two beat pickup measures
7.3 Two beat pickup measures
Pickup measures that include two beats will be treated just like pickup measures with one beat. It just requires more work counting backwards if that is the method you are using to count the pickup measure.
In the following example, you can see two quarter notes in the pickup measure.
Let's do an example together to practice.
If you start counting the pickup measure with the count backward method, you will see that there are three beats per measure. The first count you will write in is the 3 count under the last quarter note. Followed by a 2 for the first quarter note.
If you are starting with the last incomplete measure and moving forward through the counts, place the counts for the last measure in first.
Now keep counting but jump to the beginning pickup measure.
Complete the rest of the measures.
Count and clap the example.
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.2
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.2
Two beat pickup measures
7.4 Half Beat Pickup Measures
7.4 Half Beat Pickup Measures
Pickup measures will sometimes only have a half beat in them. Single eighth notes or double sixteenths are common pickup notes in many pieces of music
Time to do an example together.
Starting with the pickup measure, there is only a half of beat in it with the eighth note. Since we are working backwards in a 2/4 time signature, we would have to write a + instead of the number 2 because the eighth note only goes backward half a beat.
Or, if you are starting by putting counts in the last measure, fill in the counts that you see,
Then go to the pickup measure to continue the counting.
Complete the rest of the exercise.
Count and clap.
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.3
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.3
One half beat pickup measures
7.5 One and a Half Beat Pickup Measure
7.5 One and a Half Beat Pickup Measure
Another common pickup measure will contain 3 eighth notes, or or an eighth note followed by a quarter note. This pickup measure contains 1.5 beats of music.
Time to do an example together.
Beginning with the pickup measure, you will see there are 3 eighth notes. We know that they are counted 1 + 2 + 3 +. So, begin going backwards, starting with the +, followed by the last number in the measure, and so on.
If you choose to start with the last measure and then jump to the pickup measure, you would do the following:
Whatever method you chose, continue writing in the counts for the other measures of the exercise.
Count and clap the rhythm.
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.4
RHYTHM PRACTICE SHEET 7.4
One and a half beat pickup measures
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