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Notes are the symbols we use to represent pitches on a STAFF. There's only a few kinds.
The Basic Notes
The Basic Notes
Putting a note on a line, or in between the line of a staff indicates the pitch.
Notes are graphics made up of different parts. All will have a slightly egg shaped NOTE HEAD. It could be solid, or filled. The note may have a stem. It could be up (on the right), or down (on the left).
On the stem you may see a flag. Some notes replace the flag with a bar instead. The number of flags on a note tells you how long the note will last.
It’s all very simple to understand.
While what line, or space, the note is on tells us what the PITCH (frequency) is, what the NOTE looks like tells us how long the NOTE should last, i.e. how many beats.
A very basic note is the QUARTER NOTE.
A very basic note is the QUARTER NOTE.
This note lasts 1 beat.
This note lasts 1 beat.
It has a solid note head, slightly oval in shape.
It has a STEM, up on the right, down on the left.
Remember- stems can be placed either up, or down. Up on the right, down on the left.
The choice is usually made by deciding what looks best on the page. It could be either way.
When several flagged notes are together, the flags can be replaced by a BAR.
When several flagged notes are together, the flags can be replaced by a BAR.
Think of a single piece of paper as a WHOLE note worth 4 beats.
Tear the paper in half.
Each half represents 2 beats, or a HALF NOTE.
Tear each of them in half and you now have 4 pieces of paper- QUARTER NOTES!
Tear again and you’ve created 8 pieces of paper- EIGHTH NOTES.
And on, and on. (8,16, 32, 64, 128...)
Don’t forget to put the papers in the trash when you’re done.
TIES
TIES
When you want a note to last longer you can tie them together.
When you want a note to last longer you can tie them together.
Here a HALF note is tied to a QUARTER note.
Here a HALF note is tied to a QUARTER note.
It will last 3 beats. (2+1)
It will last 3 beats. (2+1)
It’s simpler to use a dotted note to express the same value.
It’s simpler to use a dotted note to express the same value.
The dot after a note tells you the new value is equivalent of adding half the value of the note to itself. A very useful way of de-cluttering the page!
Dots
Dots
Imagine erasing the note you’ve tied up to and the curved line, except for a little bit of it. A dot.
The dot after a note adds half the value of that note to itself.
Dots are cool. They save space. Try memorizing these values.
Dots are cool. They save space. Try memorizing these values.
Slurs
Slurs
A NOTE can only be TIED to the same pitch!
A curved line that looks like a tie, but connects to a different pitch is called a SLUR.
A curved line that looks like a tie, but connects to a different pitch is called a SLUR.
Think of a trombone sliding to a note.
RESTS
RESTS
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Not that kind of rest!
Not that kind of rest!
A QUARTER note rest has a value of 1 beat.
An EIGHTH note rest. It lasts 1/2 of a beat.
A HALF note rest. Worth 2 beats.
A WHOLE note rest is equal to 4 beats.
Just like NOTES, RESTS can have a dot after them. A dot increases the value by 1/2 of the original rest.
Just like NOTES, RESTS can have a dot after them. A dot increases the value by 1/2 of the original rest.
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