Note Duration

The length of sound or silence in music reading.

What is “Beat”?

A Beat is a steady reoccurring pulse. It might be a slow

pulse or a fast pulse

What is Rhythm?

Rhythm is the organization

of sound lengths.

Sound lengths are called note duration or notes. There are two types of note duration: Notes and Rests.

Each note has a specific length assigned to it when it is in a specific time signature.

Whole NoteThis is a whole note, it gets 4 beats

when in common time.

Half NoteThis is a half note. It gets 2 beats in

common time.

Quarter NoteThis is a quarter note. It gets one beat

in common time.

Eighth NoteThis is an Eighth Note. It gets ½ of a

beat in common time.

Two Eighth NotesSometimes two or more eighth notes

are connected and look like this.

Sixteenth NoteThis is a sixteenth note. It gets ¼

of a beat in common time.

Multiple Sixteenth NotesFour sixteenth notes look like this.

Whole RestThis is a whole rest. It gets

four beats of silence.

Half RestThis is a half rest. It gets

two beats of silence.

Quarter RestThis is a quarter rest. It gets

one beat of silence.

Eighth RestThis is an eighth rest. It gets

½ beat of silence.

Sixteenth RestThis is a sixteenth rest. It

gets ¼ beat of silence.

Let’s Review

Can you remember each note name and how many beats it

gets?

State the name and the duration.

Correct, it is an eighth rest which gets ½ beat.

State the name and the duration.

Correct, it is a quarter note which gets 1 beat.

State the name and the duration.

Correct, it is a quarter rest and

received 1 beat of silence.

State the name and the duration.

Correct, it is a half note which

gets two beats.

State the name and the duration.

Correct,it is an eighth note which gets ½ beat.

State the name and the duration.

Correct, it is a whole note and

gets four beats.

State the name and the duration.

Correct, it is a half rest which

gets two beats of silence.

State the name and the duration.

Correct, it is a whole rest and

gets four counts of silence.

Excellent Job!!