Note Value
Once we understand the concept of measure and beats,
we can start reading music.
The duration of a sound is indicated using several symbols.
Let’s start by getting to know the symbols with durations of one, two and four beats:
|
Name |
Duration |
Symbol |
|
Whole Note |
4 beats |
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Half Note |
2 beats |
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Quarter Note |
1 beat |
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Note the relationship of values between the different
symbols:
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Each whole note: |
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is divided into two half notes.
And each half note |
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is divided into two quarter notes |
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Thus, each symbol will have half the
value of the preceding shape. |
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Dotted Notes and the Tie
We have already looked at symbols with durations of one,
two and four beats, but what symbol can we use for a note having a duration of three beats?
There is no symbol for such duration, but we can create
one by using one of two ways: the dotted note or the tie.
Attaching a dot to the right side of the note will add
half of its value to its total duration. For instance, if we add the dot to a half note (which normally lasts for two beats),
we will then have a note lasting three beats instead of two (half of 2 is 1, and 2 + 1 = 3. Let’s now see the
value of the shapes we already know, after adding the dot:
|
Note |
Duration |
|
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6 beats (4 + 2) |
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3 beats (2 + 1) |
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1 beat and a half (1 + 1/2) |
The tie allows us to achieve the same goal. Using a tie
between two notes will add the value of the second note to the value of the first. For instance, if we tie a quarter note
to a half note, we will get a note lasting three beats (same as a dotted half note).
Rests
In all music, silence is just as important as sounding notes. How
do we notate silence? We do by using symbols called rest notes, or simply rests.
There is an equivalent rest symbol for each note
value. Below we can see the corresponding rest symbols for the note values we already know
