Note durations and rests
How long each note lasts, and how silence is written. Β· 10 min
Parts of a note
A note has up to three parts: the notehead (the oval), the stem (the vertical line), and flags (the little tails on the stem). The shape tells you how long to hold it.
Duration is measured in beats β a steady pulse, like a clock ticking. In most beginner music, a quarter note gets one beat.
Stem direction doesn't change the sound. Notes below the middle line have stems up; notes on or above it have stems down. It's only for readability.
The five durations you'll see
Each duration is exactly half of the one before. Two halves = one whole; two quarters = one half; and so on.
| Note | Beats (when quarter = 1 beat) |
|---|---|
| Whole note β hollow head, no stem | 4 |
| Half note β hollow head, stem | 2 |
| Quarter note β filled head, stem | 1 |
| Eighth note β filled head, stem, one flag | Β½ |
| Sixteenth note β filled head, stem, two flags | ΒΌ |
Dotted notes
A dot after a notehead adds half of the note's own value. A dotted half = 2 + 1 = 3 beats. A dotted quarter = 1 + Β½ = 1Β½ beats.
Rests β written silence
Every note value has a matching rest. You count rests exactly like notes, but don't play. Skipping rests is the most common rhythm mistake.
Whole rest: a block hanging BELOW line 4. Half rest: a block sitting ON line 3 (memory aid: the half rest looks like a hat; the whole rest like a hole).
Check yourself
You'll see immediately whether each answer is right, and why.
A half note lasts how many quarter-note beats?