Music Theory Course
Unit 2
Note Values
Where a note is placed on the staff tells you which pitch to play.
The shape of the note tells you how long to play the pitch.
Where a note is placed on the staff tells you which pitch to play.
The shape of the note tells you how long to play the pitch.
A whole note looks like an empty circle.
A half note is a whole note with a stem.
A quarter note is a half note with the head filled in.
A whole note is held 2x longer than a half note; 4x longer than a quarter note.
A half note is held 2x longer than a quarter note.
A quarter note is 2x faster than a half note; 4x faster than a whole note.
A half note is 2x faster than a whole note.
Stems usually go down (p) when the note is written above the 3rd line on the staff.
Stems usually go up (d) when the note is written below the 3rd line on the staff.
1. A whole note is held longer than a half note. the answer is!!
2. A quarter note is played faster than a half note. the answer is!!
3. 2 half notes = quarter notes. the answer is!!
4. 4 quarter notes = whole notes. the answer is!!
Music is divided into sections called measures which are separated by vertical lines called bar lines.
The end of music is usually indicated by a double bar line.
Most music has a steady pulse or beat. That pulse can be fast or slow but it is usually constant.
The beat usually has a repeating pattern of strong and weak beats.
The most common pattern of beats is sets of four. That is a very strong beat every 4 beats.
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Music is divided into measures according to this pattern of strong and weak beats.
At the beginning of the staff after the clef is a time signature which tells us how many beats are in each measure and which type of note. (quarter, half, whole) will get one of those beats.
The top number of a 4/4 time signature tells us that there will be 4 beats in each measure.
Every 4 beats there will be a new bar line.
The bottom number of a time signature of 4/4 tells us that a quarter note (1/4) will get 1 beat.
If a quarter note = 1 beat then a half note = 2 beats and a whole note = 4 beats.
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We count each measure of 4/4 time "1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,etc." with each set of 4 beats representing a new measure.
1. In 4/4 time there will be beats per and a note will get 1 beat.
2. When counting 4/4 time the strongest beat of the measure is usually and the weakest beat is usually .
3. Where should bar lines be placed in the following example?
4. Where should the "double bar line" go? the answer is!!
requires Shockwave
1. One whole note = quarter notes. the answer is!!
2. A quarter note is played times faster than a half note. the answer is!!
3. Stems go up (d) when notes are than the 3rd line. the answer is!!
4. Most music has a steady . the answer is!!
5. The patterns of strong and weak beats in music are divided into .
6. A time signature of 4/4 tells you that there is a Strong Beat every counts.
7. The top number of a time signature tells you how many are in a measure.
8. The bottom number of a time signature tells you what type of note gets beat(s).
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