Music note length

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Understanding Music Note Length

There are a variety of types of notes, each of which is held for a different length of time. The way a note appears shows how many beats it should last.

In most music:

Whole notes last four beats.

Half notes last two beats.

Quarter notes last one beat.


Any note shorter than a quarter note has one or more "hooks" to indicate its length. Each hook cuts the note's length in half.
 

Eighth notes (one hook) last one-half beat.

Sixteenth notes (two hooks) last one-quarter beat.


These proceed on to thirty-second and sixty-fourth notes (with three and four hooks, respectively). If two or more notes requiring hooks appear in a row, they're often connected with "beams." The number of horizontal lines in a beam gives note length.
 

Two eighth notes connected by a beam


Music also has rests, which indicate silent beats. Music rests are counted in the same way as music notes, and correspond to the notes they represent.
 

Whole note rest

Half note rest

Quarter note rest

Eighth note rest

Sixteenth note rest

and etc...


More Great Music Reading Tutorials and Tips


Understanding Key Signatures - This might sound a little technical but it's not really. Just a couple of symbols but key signatures play a major role in how music is made.


Understanding Music Words - Ever wonder about the little words written just above the line in sheet music? Well, now you will learn all about musical words and what they mean. Go to it!!!

 


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