note tree
shows the relationship of duration symbols
breve
Also known as the double whole note. Would take up 8 counts in a time signature of 8/4
whole note
Also known as the semibreve. Has half the duration of the breve.
half note
Has half the duration of the whole note. Would take up 2 counts in a time signature of 4/4
quarter note
Has half the duration of the half note. Would take up 1 count in a time signature of 4/4
eighth note
Has half the duration of the quarter note. Would take up 1 count in a time signature of 3/8
sixteenth note
Has half the duration of the eight note. Would take up 1 count in a time signature of 9/16.
thirty-second note
Has half the duration of the sixteenth note. Would take up 1 count in a time signature of 4/32.
rest tree
shows the relationship of the equivalent rests.
double whole rest
silence in the music lasting as long as the breve.
whole rest
silence in the music lasting as long as the whole note.
half rest
silence in the music lasting as long as the half note.
quarter rest
silence in the music lasting as long as the quarter note
eighth rest
silence in the music lasting as long as the eighth note.
sixteenth rest
silence in the music lasting as long as the sixteenth note.
thirty second rest
silence in the music lasting as long as the thirty-second note.
dot
used to extend the length or duration of a note. It extends the value of a single note by one-half of its original value. For example, the dotted half note receives three beats- two beats plus half of two beats.
(the picture is the dotted half note)
P.S.
double dot
Lengthens the dotted note value by half the length OF THE FIRST DOT. This applies to rests also.
duration
the length of time sound (or silence) occurring.
beat
a regular, recurring pulsation that divides music into units of time
meter
the organization of beats into regular groups of two, three and four (usually with strong and weak beats) and also how the beat is subdivided.
subdivision
the division of the beat into two or three equal parts.
rhythm
a series of durations, often varying, of sound and silence
tempo
the speed of the beat
duple meter
two beats per measure
when the top number in the time signature is 2 or 6,
triple meter
three beats per measure
when the top number is a 3 or a 9,
quadruple meter
four beats per measure
if the top number is a 4 or 12,
simple meter
A meter where the beat can be equally divided into two parts.
compound meter
Has A DOTTED NOTE as the beat.
simple duple
There are two beats per measure divided equally into two parts.
simple triple
There are three beats per measure divided equally into two parts.
simple quadruple
A time signature of 4/16, 4/8, 4/4, or 4/2. There are four beats per measure divided equally into two parts.
compound duple
There are two beats per measure divisible into three parts.
compound triple
There are three beats per measure divisible into three parts.
compound quadruple
There are four beats per measure divisible into three parts.
asymmetrical meter
Meters with beats of unequal length.
triplets
dividing a regular duration into three.
duplets
dividing a (normally dotted) note into two equal parts instead of three.
anacrusis
It is a note that begins on a beat preceding the first beat in the first measure and the last measure of the music is made incomplete to balance it.
syncopation
when the emphasis or stress is placed in between beats or on a normally weak part of the beat.
tie
used to join the beats of the same pitch. It is used to add length and usually stress on the upbeat.
hemiola/hemiolia
A special type of syncopation in triple meters. Sometimes it is used when the rhythm is temporarily grouped into units of two with ties even if the time signature is something like 3/4. Another application of hemiola, sometimes called cross rhythm, is a m
4/4
Also known as common time, abbreviated C
2/2
Also known as ALLA BREVE,
downbeat
the first beat of the measure