In that example. the A is "1" and the D is "&" . Because in 4/4 time a quarter note gets 1 beat. So two 1/8th notes each get 1/2 of a beat and divide it in two.
For quarter notes, you'd count 1...2...3...4, as there's a total of 4 notes. For 1/8 notes such as here, there are 8 notes, and each one needs a count. So, it would be 1...&...2....&...3...&....4....&.
In the first measure, the 3 quarter rests are 1, 2, 3 and 1/8 rest and 1/8th note together make "4...&". The rest being "4" and the note being "&"...
Does that make sense?
Quickly advancing from inept to semi-ept
