Note Values
Each note value represents a specific duration. Each smaller value is half the length of the one above it.
| Note Name | Symbol | Beats (4/4) | Subdivision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semibreve (Whole note) | ˆ | 4 beats | = 2 minims |
| Minim (Half note) | d | 2 beats | = 2 crotchets |
| Crotchet (Quarter note) | • | 1 beat | = 2 quavers |
| Quaver (Eighth note) | d + flag | ½ beat | = 2 semiquavers |
| Semiquaver (Sixteenth note) | d + 2 flags | ¼ beat | = 2 demisemiquavers |
Dots and Ties
Dots and ties both extend note durations, but work differently.
| Device | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dotted Note | Adds half the note's original value | Dotted crotchet = 1 + ½ = 1½ beats |
| Double Dotted | Adds ¾ of the original value | Double-dotted crotchet = 1 + ½ + ¼ = 1¾ beats |
| Tie | Connects two notes of the same pitch; play as one sustained note | Crotchet tied to crotchet = 2 beats total |
Key difference: A dot modifies a single note's written value. A tie joins two separate notes into one sound, often used to extend notes across bar lines.
Time Signatures
A time signature (shown at the start of a piece, after the key signature) tells you how beats are grouped into measures.
| Time Sig. | Top Number | Bottom Number | Beats per Bar | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | 4 | Crotchet | 4 | Common time — steady, even pulse |
| 3/4 | 3 | Crotchet | 3 | Waltz time — ONE-two-three |
| 2/4 | 2 | Crotchet | 2 | March time — ONE-two |
| 6/8 | 6 | Quaver | 6 (grouped as 2 sets of 3) | Compound duple — ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six |
Simple and Compound Time
Time signatures are classified by how the beat divides.
| Category | Beat Divides Into | Common Sig. | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Time | 2 equal parts (binary) | 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 | Straight, even feel |
| Compound Time | 3 equal parts (ternary) | 6/8, 9/8, 12/8 | Swung, lilting feel |
How to tell: In compound time, the top number divides by 3. 6/8 = 2 dotted-crotchet beats. 9/8 = 3 dotted-crotchet beats. 12/8 = 4 dotted-crotchet beats.
Triplets
A triplet divides a beat into three equal parts within simple time, creating a brief compound-time feel.
| Type | Normal Division | Triplet Division | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crotchet Triplet | 2 quavers in 1 beat | 3 quavers in 1 beat | Three notes evenly in the space of two |
| Quaver Triplet | 2 semiquavers in ½ beat | 3 semiquavers in ½ beat | Rapid three-note group |
- Triplets are marked with a small “3” above or below the beamed group
- They are common in jazz, blues, and Romantic-era music
- A triplet of quavers takes the same time as two normal quavers (one crotchet)