Note Values and Rests
Whole note
- Looks like
- Open notehead, no stem
- Asks for
- Normally lasts four quarter-note beats in simple 4/4 notation.
Half note
- Looks like
- Open notehead with stem
- Asks for
- Normally lasts two quarter-note beats.
Quarter note
- Looks like
- Filled notehead with stem
- Asks for
- Normally lasts one quarter-note beat.
Eighth note
- Looks like
- A single flag or beam
- Asks for
- Normally lasts half a quarter-note beat.
Sixteenth note
- Looks like
- A double flag or beam
- Asks for
- Normally lasts one quarter of a quarter-note beat.
Thirty-second note
- Looks like
- A triple flag or beam
- Asks for
- Normally lasts one eighth of a quarter-note beat.
Sixty-fourth note
- Looks like
- A quadruple flag or beam
- Asks for
- Normally lasts one sixteenth of a quarter-note beat.
Breve
- Looks like
- Double whole note
- Asks for
- Has the value of two whole notes in modern notation.
- In use
- In 4/2 time a breve fills the measure.
Longa
- Looks like
- Long note value
- Asks for
- A historical note value worth two breves, or three in older triple (perfect) groupings.
Whole rest
- Looks like
- Block hanging from line
- Asks for
- Normally rests for four quarter-note beats; also commonly denotes a full empty measure.
Half rest
- Looks like
- Block resting on line
- Asks for
- Normally rests for two quarter-note beats.
Quarter rest
- Looks like
- A vertical zigzag
- Asks for
- Indicates silence for one quarter-note beat.
Eighth rest
- Looks like
- A rest with a single hook
- Asks for
- Indicates silence for half a quarter-note beat.
Sixteenth rest
- Looks like
- A rest with two hooks
- Asks for
- Indicates silence for one quarter of a quarter-note beat.
Thirty-second rest
- Looks like
- A rest with three hooks
- Asks for
- Indicates silence for one eighth of a quarter-note beat.
Sixty-fourth rest
- Looks like
- A rest with four hooks
- Asks for
- Indicates silence for one sixteenth of a quarter-note beat.
Dotted note
- Looks like
- A dot after the notehead
- Asks for
- Adds half of the note's undotted duration.
- In use
- A dotted quarter equals three eighths.
Double-dotted note
- Looks like
- A pair of dots after the notehead
- Asks for
- Adds three quarters of the undotted duration in total.
- In use
- A double-dotted half equals seven eighths.
Dotted rest
- Looks like
- Dot after rest
- Asks for
- Adds half of the rest's undotted duration.
Tie
- Looks like
- Curved line between same pitches
- Asks for
- Combines successive written durations into one sustained sound.
Beam
- Looks like
- Horizontal connecting stroke
- Asks for
- Groups short notes and often clarifies rhythmic subdivisions.
Flag
- Looks like
- Curved stroke on stem
- Asks for
- Marks an unbeamed eighth note or shorter value.
Stem
- Looks like
- Vertical line on notehead
- Asks for
- Helps identify note value and distinguish simultaneous voices.
Cue-size note
- Looks like
- Smaller notehead
- Asks for
- May show another instrument's material or an editorial performance cue.
Grace note
- Looks like
- Small note
- Asks for
- An ornamental note whose timing follows stylistic and editorial conventions.
Acciaccatura
- Looks like
- Slashed grace note
- Asks for
- Usually indicates a brief grace note performed very close to the main note.
Appoggiatura
- Looks like
- Unslashed grace note
- Asks for
- An expressive grace note often given meaningful time from the principal note.
Multi-measure rest
- Looks like
- Rest bar with number
- Asks for
- Indicates several consecutive measures of silence.
Slash notation
- Looks like
- Rhythmic slashes
- Asks for
- Indicates repeated beats or comping without specifying exact pitches.
Rhythmic notation
- Looks like
- Slash noteheads
- Asks for
- Specifies rhythm while leaving some or all pitch choices open.
Other chapters: Staff and Clefs · Pitch and Accidentals · Meter and Grouping · Articulation · Dynamics and Expression · Tempo and Navigation · Ornaments · Keyboard, Guitar and Ensemble · Jazz and Contemporary
Engraving styles differ between publishers and periods, and some signs change meaning with style or instrument.
Open the Music Symbols Atlas →