Ploddings

Notes values tell you how long a note "rings out", or lasts. It could be a sudden note that cuts off, or a looong held note. Musical notation comes with "standardized" note values, which you can piece together to write out your desired note duration.

Whole Note

This is called a whole note it is equal to 4 beats.

Half Note

This is called a half note, it is equal to 2 beats.

Quarter Note

This is called a quarter note, it is equal to 1 beat.

Eighth Note

This is called a eighth note, it is equal to half a beat or two evenly placed notes every beat.

Sixteenth Note

This is called a sixteenth note, it is equal to a quarter of a beat or four evenly placed notes every beat.

Thirty-Second Note

This is called a thirty second note, it is equal to an or eight evenly placed notes every beat.

What Are Rests?

Matter is to antimatter, as "notes" are to "rests".

While notes mark times when sounds are played, rests mark times when no sounds are played.

How Are Rests Notated?

Just as notes are drawn differently, depending on their time values, rests are drawn differently also, depending on their time values.

You can see in the figure below how rests are notated.

The "Subdivisions" of Rhythms

Have you ever seen those Matryoshka Dolls? (Those Russian "doll in doll in doll in doll" toys.)

In the same way, notes with short time values can mathematically fit "inside" notes with longer time values.

Here are some examples of how note values can fit "inside" one another:

• There are two half notes in one whole note
• There are four quarter notes in one whole note
• There are eight eighth notes in one whole note
• There are two quarter notes in one half note
• There are two eighth notes in one quarter note

This figure below gives visual representation this: