"Understanding Note Values
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Note values are simple as pie to learn, and that's what you're about to do. The first thing you want to understand is that music is divided in "units of time" or measures.
Allow me to use this analogy:
If you look at the face of a traditional clock, it's easy to see that there are 12 certain points on that clock designated with a number. The distance from one number to the next (12 to 1, 1 to 2, etc.) is five - five seconds if we focus on the second hand. well, we could say that "space" between those numbers is actually a measure of time, in this case five seconds. We can go further to say that these seconds could be referred to as beats or counts. In other words, 1-2-3-4-5 (five beats, or a count of five) would complete one measure.
Music works this way, too. It's just that a measure could be four beats (or counts), three beats, five beats, two beats, etc... it can vary.
The duration of notes in music varies as well. This is pretty easy to understand if you just sing or hum any tune that you are familiar with:
Happy Biiirthday To Youooooooooo...
It's easy to recognize that certain notes lasts longer than others. That's one of the things that gives the song it's identity.
Great so far?
Okay, notes can last for one count (beat), two, three, four or more - or less. The longer the duration, the fewer the notes will be a part of that measure. In other words, if a measure contains four beats, and it contains a note that lasts for four beats, there would be no room for any other notes. That makes sense, right?
The most common values that you will want to become familiar with are the following:
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Whole Note
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Half Note
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Dotted Half Note
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Quarter Note
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Eighth Note
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Sixteenth Note
Each of these has its own duration and they're simple enough to get a handle on, so I encourage you to do that.
There are others, but these are definitely the most commonly used and, once you understand these, any others will be a cinch to learn.
So go ahead and get started familiarizing yourself with these note values and you'll be waltzin' in time in no time!
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