How to count sixteenth notes
Sixteenth notes move fast, but counting them is surprisingly orderly. There's one little phrase — "one-e-and-a" — that unlocks every sixteenth-note rhythm you'll ever read. Say it evenly and the fastest passages slow right down in your mind.
A sixteenth note lasts a quarter of a beat, which means four sixteenth notes fit into one beat. To count four even sounds inside a single tap of your foot, we use a four-syllable phrase. Learn it once and you've got the whole system.
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The magic phrase: "one-e-and-a"
To count one beat of sixteenths, say "one-e-and-a" (written 1 e & a). Each syllable is one sixteenth note, and all four must be perfectly even:
- "one" — the beat itself (your foot tap)
- "e" — the second sixteenth
- "and" — the halfway point of the beat (the same "and" you use for eighth notes)
- "a" — the fourth sixteenth
Then the next beats are "two-e-and-a," "three-e-and-a," "four-e-and-a." Tap your foot only on the numbers and squeeze e, and, a evenly between the taps.
Why this works
Notice that the numbers are your beats, and the "ands" are the eighth-note halfway points. The "e" and "a" simply fill the remaining gaps, splitting each half-beat in two. So "one-e-and-a" is just your eighth-note counting ("one-and") with two extra sixteenths slotted in. If you can already count eighth notes, you're halfway there.
Counting mixed sixteenth rhythms
Real music rarely uses four sixteenths in a row the whole time. Usually sixteenths mix with eighths inside a beat. The trick: keep the full "one-e-and-a" grid running in your head, but only say out loud the syllables that actually have a note. Two very common patterns:
- Eighth + two sixteenths — counted "one (e) and-a." A longer sound on the beat, then two quick ones. Think "one–and–a."
- Two sixteenths + eighth — counted "one-e-and (a)." Two quick sounds, then a longer one held through the "a."
In both cases the grid never changes — you're just choosing which slots get struck and which get held over. Keeping the silent syllables ticking in your mind is what keeps the rhythm tight.
A step-by-step practice plan
- Set a slow metronome — slow enough that all four sixteenths stay obviously even.
- Say "one-e-and-a" for a full measure with no instrument, tapping the numbers.
- Clap the grid, then drop claps to make the eighth+sixteenth patterns above.
- Speed up gradually — only raise the tempo once the spacing stays perfectly even.
- Drill the symbols out of order so you recognize sixteenths instantly on the page.
Rhythm Match
Match each rhythm symbol to its name and value — including sixteenths, eighths, dotted notes, and rests. Fast, free, no instrument needed.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count four sixteenth notes?
Count one beat of sixteenths as "one-e-and-a," with all four syllables perfectly even. The number is the beat, "e" is the second sixteenth, "and" is the half-beat, and "a" is the fourth sixteenth.
What does the "e" and "a" mean in counting?
They are the off-beat sixteenths that fall between the number and the "and." The "e" sits a quarter of a beat after the number, and "a" sits a quarter of a beat after the "and." They divide the beat into four even parts.
How do I count sixteenth notes mixed with eighth notes?
Keep the full "one-e-and-a" grid running in your head and only say the syllables that have a sound. An eighth plus two sixteenths is "one–and-a," and two sixteenths plus an eighth is "one-e-and."
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