What does it mean for an eighth rest to be on top of a whole note. How do I play that. A link is given where at page 2, there are numerous notes with an eighth rest on top.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/8568223/linkin-park-what-ive-done

The sheet music is describing two different "voices" for the bass clef there.

Different voices are used when some notes are played or held longer than other notes being played in the same measure. The rest is just there to fill in the "space" before that voice starts playing notes. With the rest in place both voices properly take up the entire measure.

This would likely be played with use of the sustain pedal holding the lower bass notes that get played at the start of the measure while the left hand moves up to play the rest of the 8th notes.

Hope that helps!

[deleted - same info as AnthonyB's post]

Hi thetruenash,

Think of different instruments playing at the same time or different voices singing. One would rest for an eighth note and then join in while another would be holding the whole notes.

In this piece, you would use the pedal to hold the whole notes while you play the other notes. At times, a sostenuto pedal (if your piano or digital piano has one) would make it easier. Or you might only press the pedal part way down. I'd recommend experimenting with these methods and using the one that sounds best.

Rich

Ok Thanks everybody