Note Values & RhythmHow Long to Hold It
Knowing which note to play is only half the job. The other half is knowing how long to hold it. That's what note values are — they tell you the duration of each note.
The Basic Note Values
| Note | Symbol | Beats | Memory Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Note | Hollow oval, no stem | 4 beats | Takes up the WHOLE measure |
| Half Note | Hollow oval with stem | 2 beats | HALF of a whole note |
| Quarter Note | Filled oval with stem | 1 beat | One step, one beat |
| Eighth Note | Filled oval with flag | ½ beat | Two fit in one beat |
| Sixteenth Note | Filled oval with two flags | ¼ beat | Four fit in one beat |
Dotted Notes
A dot after a note adds half its value.
- Dotted half note = 2 + 1 = 3 beats
- Dotted quarter note = 1 + ½ = 1½ beats
The dotted quarter + eighth note rhythm is everywhere in Jewish slow songs — especially chuppah music. Once you recognize it, you'll hear it in every slow piece you know.
Rests
Silence is part of music too. Every note value has a matching rest.
Ties and Slurs
A tie is a curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch — play the first and hold through the second without re-attacking. A slur looks the same but connects different pitches — play smoothly.