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When I look at the dotted half note, it reminds me of a golf club and ball. Its name fits its description. So, what does a dot do? It adds 1/2 of a note's value to itself. On it's own, the half note typically gets two beats. 1/2 of that is one. Put a dot after it and you have three beats... easy? you bet!
Let's look at one:
To play the note above, simply count yourself in ... |1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4|... start playing on count "1" and hold the E down for three counts (or beats). When playing a song with four beats per measure, as above, it's obvious that another beat is needed to complete the measure.
In the above example, we have a quarter note for count "4," although other combinations would work as well such as (but not limited to) two eighth notes or four sixteenth notes.
It's quite common to play a song with three beats per measure, as in a waltz. In such a case, a dotted half completes the measure, as shown here:
Play the following as you count three beats per measure. Count yourself in and start on count "1."
Nice going!
You are certainly getting a handle on your note values! Review the others if it will help you by clicking here
Put both hands on your piano keyboard, and alternate between both hands, applying a dotted half to each key you play at random. Make a game of it... play, play, and play some more!
Return from Dotted Half Note to Piano Theory
Return from Dotted Half Note to Piano Lessons
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