Note Values (Junior Cert Music): Revision Notes

Note Values

• Some notes represent long sounds, while others represent short sounds.
• When a series of long and short sounds are heard together, they create a rhythm pattern.
• Understanding note values helps musicians read and play music correctly, ensuring the timing and flow of a piece stay consistent.
• We will study:
  1. Semibreve
  2. Minim
  3. Crotchet
  4. Quaver
  5. Semiquaver

Semibreve

• A semibreve symbol represents 4 beats of sound.
• A semibreve is oval in shape and its centre is not coloured in.

Minim

• A minim symbol represents 2 beats of sound.
• A minim has an oval note head and its centre is not coloured in.

Crotchet

• A crotchet symbol represents 1 beat of sound.
• A crotchet has an oval note head, but its centre is filled in.
• It also has a stem attached to the side of the note head.

Quaver

• A quaver is worth ½ a beat of sound.

• A single quaver also has a note head that is filled in and a stem.

• The stem has a tail attached to it.

  

• Quavers are often found in pairs.

• A pair of quavers is equal to 1 beat (½ + ½ = 1).

• Their tails are joined together using a straight line called a beam.

  

Semiquaver

• A semiquaver lasts for a quarter of a beat.
• That means four semiquavers fit into one crotchet beat.
• They look similar to quavers, but they have two tails on their stem instead of one.
• When semiquavers are beside each other, they are often beamed together using two lines across the top.