"Half Note Earns Two For One!"
Since a half note typically gets two beats, that's a pretty easy way to remember it, don't you think? Also, it is very easy to recognize since it looks almost identical to a
whole note
... it just has a stem attached - and gets half its value:
So, if you are playing a song that has four beats in a measure, two half notes would actually complete a measure. Easy, yes? Of course! I'd like to mention here that its stem can either go downward on the left side of the head or upward on the right side of it, depending on its context in the music. Generally (though there will be exceptions), if the note is above the middle line of either clef, the stem will go down. If the note is below this line, the stem will go up. If the note is on the middle line, it is likely to go either way:
Just randomly pick a note by choosing a key on your piano keyboard so we can apply this knowledge... now count in a steady fashion: |1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4| etc. As you do this play the key right on the count "1" or "2" or "3" and hold the key down for the next count as well, resulting in playing the note for two beats. This could be for beats 1 and 2, 2 and 3, or 3 and 4. You wouldn't play one on beat four in this case. Why? Because there are only four beats in the measure and the second count would have no place in the measure. In the following example, you will see two half notes in each measure. So, you would strike the E on count 1 and hold it for count 2... then you would strike the E again on count 3 and hold it for count 4. In the next measure, you would do exactly the same thing on middle C.
Of course, you can play this example with any fingerings you want to, as long as your fingers are positioned in such a way where you have one finger on each key in advance so you don't have to "jump" your hand around. For example, place your right middle finger on E and your thumb on middle C. Or you could use your pinkie on E and your middle finger on middle C... see? You have one finger in the middle not playing anything, but it does sit on the one key between the two being played. Remember, when counting, always count steady as a clock's second hand would move - very predictably. There you go! Now that you've got the half note under control, explore the other
note values
that you have yet to become familiar with while we have fun on our journey.
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