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Notation - Beats

Determine how many beats are in a series of notes.

Setup

Dots
Use these radio buttons to select what dots will be used in the quiz: double dots, single dots, or no dots at all.

Types of Notes
Use these checkboxes to select which types of notes will be used in the quiz.

Time Signatures
Use these checkboxes to select which time signatures will be used in the quiz. Note that in the beats quiz, the top number of the time signature is not specified, as it is irrelevant.


Learning the Beats

Time Signatures
Time signatures are placed at the beginning of a piece, and contain a top number and a bottom number. The top number represents how many beats there are in a measure, and the bottom number represents what type of note gets a beat. For example, in 3/4, there are 3 beats per measure and a quarter note gets a beat. In 6/8, there are 6 beats per measure and an eighth note gets a beat.

Notes
Each consecutive note in this list is worth half of the previously listed note (which makes sense from their names).

Note Name

Length in ?/2

Length in ?/4

Length in ?/8

Double whole note

4 beats

8 beats

16 beats

Whole note

2 beats

4 beats

8 beats

Half note

1 beat

2 beats

4 beats

Quarter note

1/2 a beat

1 beat

2 beats

Eighth note

1/4 a beat

1/2 a beat

1 beat

Sixteenth note

1/8 a beat

1/4 a beat

1/2 a beat

Dots
In addition to standing on its own, any note can be dotted or double-dotted. A dot adds 1/2 the note's original value, and a second dot adds 1/4 (therefore, in total, two dots together would add 3/4). Therefore, for example, a doubly dotted quarter note in 4/4 would be worth 1 and 3/4 beats.