The duration

The duration is the quality of sound that allows us to distinguish betwween long and short sounds. Now, we must learn what notation elements we use to identify, write and perform different durations.

The organization of the different durations of sounds and rests in time sets the rhythm, that is considered as "the engine of music".

MUSIC NOTE VALUES AND RESTS

Whole Note= Redonda

Half Note= Blanca

Quarter Note = Negra

Eighth Note = Corchea

Sixteenth Note = Semicorchea

NOTE VALUES TREE

VIDEOS ABOUT NOTE VALUE

TIME SIGNATURE (Los compases)

Time Signature

Time signatures are used to divide the time into equal parts and to set the length of note values and rests.

Time signatures are represented by fractions:

The top number indicates the number of beats there are in each measure.

The botton number indicates how long each beat is.

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TYPES OF TIME SIGNATURES

Time signatures divide the musical time in equal parts (or beats). The first beat of each measure is the strong beat. According to the number of beats, time signatures can be:

4/4

Quadruple: divided into four beats

Strong/weak/ strong/weak

3/4

Triple: divided into three beats

Strong/ Weak/ weak

2/4

Duple: divided into two beats.

Strong/ Weak

NOTE LENGTH MODIFIERS

They are used to prolong or extend the duration of notes and rests. There are three types.

Dot: It is a small dot placed on the right of notes and rests. It adds half of their value.

Tie: it is a curved line that links two or more notes that sound the same, adding up their lengths.

Fermata: it is a semicircle with a dot in the middle. It extends the length of the note or rest, interrupting for a moment the beat.

TEMPO

The tempo is the speed of the performance of a musical piece. In order to indicate different tempo speeds, we use Italian terms (markings). Largo: very slow

Adagio: slow

Andante: calm

Allegro: fast

Presto or Vivace: very fast

However, the perception of the tempo is quite subjective. That is why many composers use in their works the metronome marking, which is more accurate.

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