Note values and rests
Note values show how long each note lasts. In 4/4 time, a whole note gets 4 beats, a half note 2, a quarter note 1, an eighth note half a beat and a sixteenth note a quarter of a beat: each value is half the one before. Every note value has a rest of the same length, which is silence.
| Note and rest | Name | Length in 4/4 | Per whole note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole note (semibreve) Whole rest | 4 beats | 1 | |
| Half note (minim) Half rest | 2 beats | 2 | |
| Quarter note (crotchet) Quarter rest | 1 beat | 4 | |
| Eighth note (quaver) Eighth rest | ½ beat | 8 | |
| Sixteenth note (semiquaver) Sixteenth rest | ¼ beat | 16 |
Plays one bar of 4/4 at 60 beats per minute with the metronome: hear how many of each value fit in 4 beats.
Dotted notes
A dot after a note adds half its value. A dotted half note lasts 2 + 1 = 3 beats (a full bar of 3/4); a dotted quarter note lasts a beat and a half; a dotted eighth note, three quarters of a beat.
| Dotted note | Symbol | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Dotted Half note (minim) | 3 beats 2 beats + 1 beat | |
| Dotted Quarter note (crotchet) | 1½ beats 1 beat + ½ beat | |
| Dotted Eighth note (quaver) | ¾ beat ½ beat + ¼ beat |
Time signatures and bar lines
Bar lines split the music into bars (measures). The time signature at the start says how many beats fit in each bar (the top number) and which note value gets one beat (the bottom number: 4 = quarter note, 8 = eighth note). In 4/4 each bar adds up to 4 quarter notes; in 3/4, to 3. The thick double bar marks the end.
Practice each time signature with the metronome:
See also
Frequently asked questions
How many beats is each note worth?
In 4/4: whole note 4 beats, half note 2, quarter note 1, eighth note ½ and sixteenth note ¼ of a beat. A whole note equals 2 half notes, 4 quarter notes, 8 eighth notes or 16 sixteenth notes.
What is the difference between a note and a rest?
A note is sound and a rest is silence of the same length. Each note value has its own rest: a quarter rest is one beat of silence in 4/4.
What does a dot after a note mean?
The dot adds half the value: a dotted half note = 3 beats, a dotted quarter note = 1½ beats, a dotted eighth note = ¾ of a beat.
How many eighth notes are in a quarter note?
Two. And four sixteenth notes. Each value equals two of the next shorter one.
Does a quarter note always get one beat?
In time signatures with 4 on the bottom (2/4, 3/4, 4/4), yes. In 2/2 the half note gets the beat; in 6/8 the eighth note does (and each strong beat groups three of them).