Silence in music is one of the most over looked and most powerful tools that can be used. Silence is just as important as playing fast, dynamics, tone and timber and countless other musical ideas. In modern pop music it is overlooked and under appreciated by most.
As a musical term silence is noted as a "Rest" and has as many time increments as any other note value. Here is what some of them look like.
From left to right tis is the 16th note rest, 8th note rest, 1/4 note rest, 1/2 note rest and finally the full note rest.
Power Of Silence
Why is silence so powerful? Silence is as much an emotional response as yelling and screaming. Have you ever been in an argument when the person you where fighting with stopped talking and used there silence as a weapon? In an argument the person talking is typically the person loosing.
Music is different because there is no competition to win as there is in an argument but it is similar because music is communication.
Silence creates anticipation in the listener. It makes the person listening sit on the edge of their seat waiting, hanging for the next note.
Deliberate Silence
Using a rest or silence in your music deliberately also shows the listener that you understand what you are doing as a composer or songwriter. It is another tool for you to control the listener's attention and entertain them.
Silence is also a way to bring a band together. Practicing breaks and stops in music makes every one of your band members count and anticipate your song. It makes the piece more fun and can also be used as a way to show off just how good you all are!
Silent Contribution
Silence as a dynamic is important because it allows you to change direction in your music or adds power to the next musical statement. What I mean by this is if you follow up a sudden silence with a hard hitting, loud bar of music you will energize your crowed. Conversely, you can follow up a loud section of music with a sudden silence and then a light beautiful few bars and end a piece with a sigh of relief.
There are so many things that you can do with silence in music. Be creative and experiment with this new tool.
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