12.—The commonest errors in simple time are not in regard to notes, but rests. This is because silence cannot be divided or syncopated, and therefore that would often be quite right as a representation of sound which is quite wrong as a representation of silence. Thus a beat should not be represented by two rests where one would do, though it might be by two notes (see a, Fig. 7). Nor one rest represent parts of two beats (see b, Fig. 7). Nor one rest represent an unaccented and an accented beat (see c, Fig. 7). In triple time it is better to avoid a single rest representing the latter and greater part of a measure (see d, Fig. 7), indeed, it may be said that half-note rests should not be used in triple time.
Not good.
Good.
Fig. 7.
13.—But in compound time errors, if not more numerous in kind, are much more common anyway in regard to notes as distinct from rests. A note should never be written which represents a beat and part of another. The commonest violation of this principle—and it is very common—is in writing a dotted half note in six-eight time; this divides the measure into three
