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Chapter 3 · Rhythm and meter

Whole, half, quarter, eighth notes

5 min Lesson 1/5

Key idea A note's shape tells you how long it lasts in beats: whole 4, half 2, quarter 1, eighth half a beat. Each value is exactly twice the next one.

The beat is a steady pulse, like a clock ticking. You count beats, and the note shape tells you how many beats each note lasts. Here a quarter note gets one beat.

421½
The number under each note is how many beats it lasts.
  • Whole note: hollow head, no stem. 4 beats.
  • Half note: hollow head with a stem. 2 beats.
  • Quarter note: filled head with a stem. 1 beat.
  • Eighth note: filled head, stem with one flag. Half a beat. Two eighths in a row are usually joined by a beam.
  • Sixteenth notes have two flags and last a quarter of a beat. You will meet them later.
441+2+3+4+1+2+3+4+1+2+3+4+1+2+3+4+
Every bar is 4 beats, just divided differently. Press play and count along.
441+2+3+4+1+2+3+4+
The bold counts are where you press a key.
44EDCEDCCCCCDDDDEDC
"Hot Cross Buns" uses only E, D, C in quarters, halves, and eighths.

Quick check

Question 1/5

How many beats does a half note last?

Keep practicing

Drill Rhythm tap Hear the count-in, tap in time. Piece Ode to Joy A stepwise tune shared between the hands in C position. Piece Frère Jacques A familiar tune in C position with a reach up to A, and the left hand rings the closing bells.