Musical Note Values and Rhythmic Notation

Note Values and Hierarchy

• Double Whole Note (Grave): This is the longest note, depicted as an open note with two lines on either side.
• Whole Note: An open, oval note without a stem.
• Half Note: An open note that includes a stem.
• Quarter Note: A solid black note with a stem.
• Eighth Note: A solid note with a stem and a single flag or beam.
• Sixteenth Note: A solid note with a stem and two flags or beams.
• Thirty-second Note: A solid note with a stem and three flags or beams.
• Proportional Relationship:
  • $1$ double whole note equals $2$ whole notes.
  • $1$ whole note equals $2$ half notes.
  • $1$ half note equals $2$ quarter notes.
  • $1$ quarter note equals $2$ eighth notes.
  • $1$ eighth note equals $2$ sixteenth notes.

Rests and Silent Indicators

• Whole Rest: Fills the space between the third and fourth lines (hanging from the fourth line).
• Half Rest: Sits on the third line.
• Quarter Rest: Indicated by a squiggle sign.
• Eighth Rest: Resembles the number $7$ and is placed over the third line.
• Sixteenth Rest: Similar to an eighth rest but consists of two parts.

Rules for Stems, Flags, and Beams

• Stem Direction: For notes below the middle line of the staff, stems go up; for notes above the middle line, stems go down. Notes on the middle line can go in either direction.
• Stem Placement: Upward stems are on the right side of the note; downward stems are on the left.
• Beams: Used to connect notes like eighths and sixteenths. Beams should generally not cross more than one line on the staff. As seen in a string quartet excerpt by Mozart, notes above the middle line have downward stems, even when beamed.
• Flags: Always placed on the right side of the stem, regardless of whether the stem points up or down.
• Ledger Lines: When a note is on a ledger line, the stem should point toward the middle of the third line.

Extending Note Duration: Ties and Dots

• Tie: A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch. The first note is played and held for the total duration of both notes (e.g., tying two eighth notes creates a value equal to one quarter note).
• Dot: A dot placed after a note increases its value by exactly one half specified by the original note.
  • A dotted half note equals a half note plus a quarter note ($1 + \frac{1}{2} = 1.5$).
  • A dotted quarter note equals a quarter note plus an eighth note ($1 + \frac{1}{2} = 1.5$).