Music Matters - Strings

Note Lengths (Duration)

Different length notes are grouped together into 'bars' of music. By putting together different combinations of notes you can make different rhythms for your music.

When playing music it is important to recognise and understand the meaning of the different types of notes you will see. To be able to read music you need to first learn the names of the notes and where they live on the staff (see The Notes on The Staff section) you must also know what each note looks like and what the different shapes and colours of the notes mean. Use the chart below to help you learn them and to help you work out new rhythms in your music.

Each note has a french time name, these are to help you say the rhythm out loud - the names of the notes are meant to last for the amount of time that the note will be held for e.g. Taa is held for one beat whereas Taa-aa-aa-aa is held for four beats.

Note Name	What it looks like	How long it is held for	French rhythm name
*Simple Time*
The Semibreve		Hold for 4 counts	Taa-aa-aa-aa

The Minim		Hold for 2 counts	Taa-aa
	.
The Crotchet		Hold for 1 count	Taa

The Quaver		Hold for 1/2 count	Ta-te

The Semi-Quaver		Hold for 1/4 count	Ta-fe-ta-te
*Compound Time*
The Dotted Crotchet		The dot makes the note last half as long again, so this note lasts for 1 and 1/2 beats.	Tai - pronounced 'Tie'

The Dotted Minim		The dot makes the note last half as long again, so this note lasts for 3 beats.

Quavers		Usually takes up the same time as one whole beat in compound time.	ta-ti-ta

Crotchet and Quaver rhythm		This usually takes the same time as one whole beat in compound time - it makes a bouncy rhythm	ta-a

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