Placing rest symbols according the convention of the time signature

Question

I am preparing for a music school entry exam and I am given following problem:

"In the following example, place the missing rest symbols in the brackets. It's possible, that you have to write down multiple rest symbols. Also, write the rest symbols according to the convention of the given time signature"

It's easy to calculate the missing rest values:

Bar 1: 1/8-rest

Bar 2: 5/16-rest

Bar 3: 6/16-rest

Bar 4: 3/8-rest

However, I am wondering about the words convention of the given time signature. Is there a principle which also applies to other time signatures, for example 7/8 time signature or 3/4 time signature?

I would write the following:

To me, it seems, this would be the easiest to read. Including, that each rest combined with a note is equal to a 1/4 value. (Except for Bar 1.) Is this right, or is it bad practice to put a dotted 1/8 rest after the 1/16 note?

Is the following better?

Now, I feel like, this second approach seems to be a bit more readable? :-)

Lastly, getting rid of the last dotted rest:

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

The "convention of the time signature" is the definition of the time division unit, or "pulse", provided by the denominator of the time signature.

2/4 means the time division is the quarter note/crotchet. So rests (and sometimes even actual notes) should preferably be written with values based on that unit. And a rest symbol should not cross the boundaries of the time division.

So, for example for a dotted crotchet rest, you should write a quaver and a crotchet rests. The order depends on the rhythmic pattern, i.e. the crotchet should be aligned with an integer subdivision of the bar.

The rationale for this way of writing rests is that it is much easier to read, specially when reading at first sight.

So, this way:

and not (slightly more difficult to interpret at first sight):

and even less (as a rest symbol "crosses" from one time division unit to the following):

The same exact principles apply to any time signature, in relation to the respective time division unit. However you have to consider if it is a compound time signature or not. The "pulse" of a 6/8, 9/8 or 12/8, again, "by the convention of the time signature", is not a quaver but a dotted quaver (e.g. 2 pulse units of a doted quaver in a 6/8 bar).

So, for example in a 9/8 time signature you could have:

But absolutely not!:

Note that sometimes it's good to apply this kind of reasoning to notes too, for example if there are complex syncopations. So, this simple example would be normal and acceptable, as it is not a too complex pattern:

But for a rather more complex rhythms and/or time signatures this type of writing would be preferable, as it makes evident how the rhythm pattern fits into the time division:

As a summary, for rests:

• Dotted values - never use in simple times, use in compound times to fulfil a time division unit
• Never "cross" time division units

Overall one should always try to write, not necessarily in the most concise or "elegant" way, but in the way the makes it easiest for a quick correct interpretation.