What does a sixteenth note sound like?
A sixteenth note lasts one sixteenth as long as a whole. True, that is not a practical answer to the question, but it is the truth. A sixteenth note does not have a specific pitch. It could be a G or a D or a B flat. The fact that it is a sixteenth refers only to its rhythm. So, how long does a sixteenth note really last? To find out, you must know the tempo of the piece, the pulse. Then you must know which kind of note the pulse represents. In most cases, the pulse represents the quarter note. So, a sixteenth note would last 1/4 as long as a quarter note. In other words, four sixteenth notes would sound in the time of one quarter note. How do you know which kind of note is receiving the pulse? You check the time signature. It almost always consists of two numbers, one above the other. The lower number indicates which kind of note receives the pulse. For instance, a four indicates a 1/4 note. A 2 indicates a 1/2 note.
