Rest (music)

A rest is a musical notation sign that indicates no sound.

Each rest symbol and name corresponds with a particular note value for length of time. The rest shows how long the silence should last.

Normal rests

American English	British English	Multiplier	Symbol
Longa	Longa rest	4
Double whole rest	Breve rest	2
Whole rest	Semibreve rest	1
Half rest	Minim rest	​1⁄2
Quarter rest	Crotchet rest	​1⁄4
Eighth rest	Quaver rest	​1⁄8
Sixteenth rest	Semiquaver rest	​1⁄16
Thirty-second rest	Demisemiquaver rest	​1⁄32
Sixty-fourth rest	Hemidemisemiquaver rest	​1⁄64

Multiple bar rests

Fifteen bars' rest

If a rest should last for multiple bars, it is shown by a thick horizontal line in the middle of the staff, with short vertical lines at each end. The number of bars of the rest is written over the top.