Notes and rests are dotted—that is to say, a dot is placed to the right of the note or rest—to indicate that the length of time the note is played or the rest is held should be changed in a piece of music. A dot after a note tells the musician that the note or rest should be held half again as long as its normal duration.
Every musical work has an established tempo and most scholars believe that musical tempi are based on human heartbeats. Musicologist David Epstein calls the underlying rhythm of any piece of music a “ground pulse” that in some respects sets the tone for the piece. Dots on notes can elongate or interrupt the beat in a way that is interesting, subconsciously or consciously. When taken as a whole, tempo combined with other variables, such as timing, dynamics, intonation, and timber, defines the emotional content of a piece.
Dotted, Double-Dotted, and Triple-Dotted Notes and Rests
Therefore, dotting a note or a rest changes the regular pattern, by adding half of the value of the note or rest to itself. For example, a half note normally gets two beats, but when it is dotted, it gets 3 beats. To illustrate, the value of a half note is 2, half of 2 is 1 so 2 + 1 = 3.
Multiple dots increase the length an additional half the time of the previous dot, so a half note with two dots (also known as double-dotted) is calculated 2+1+ 1/2 = 3 1/2 beats, and a triple-dotted half note equals 2+1+1/2+1/4 = 3 3/4.
The table below lists the type of dotted note/rest and its duration depending on the number of dots. Musical pieces with more than three dots are rare.
Dotted Notes and Rests and Their Duration
Dotted Note Dotted Rest No Dots One Dot Two Dots Three Dots
whole note whole rest 4 6 7 7 1/2
half note half rest 2 3 3 1/2 3 /3/4
quarter note quarter rest 1 1 1/2 1 3/4 1 7/8
eighth note eighth rest 1/2 3/4 7/8 15/16
sixteenth note sixteenth rest 1/4 3/8 7/16 15/32
Sources:
Epstein D. 1995 Shaping Time: Music, the Brain, and Performance. New York: Schirmer Books. Gabrielsson A. 1999. Studying Emotional Expression in Music Performance. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education(141):47-53.
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
Symbols of Piano Music
The Italian Commands of Piano Music
Reading Music: Tied Notes
Musical Symbols in Piano Music
Types of Rests and Pauses in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
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Notes and rests are dotted—that is to say, a dot is placed to the right of the note or rest—to indicate that the length of time the note is played or the rest is held should be changed in a piece of music. A dot after a note tells the musician that the note or rest should be held half again as long as its normal duration.
Every musical work has an established tempo and most scholars believe that musical tempi are based on human heartbeats. Musicologist David Epstein calls the underlying rhythm of any piece of music a “ground pulse” that in some respects sets the tone for the piece. Dots on notes can elongate or interrupt the beat in a way that is interesting, subconsciously or consciously. When taken as a whole, tempo combined with other variables, such as timing, dynamics, intonation, and timber, defines the emotional content of a piece.
Dotted, Double-Dotted, and Triple-Dotted Notes and Rests
Therefore, dotting a note or a rest changes the regular pattern, by adding half of the value of the note or rest to itself. For example, a half note normally gets two beats, but when it is dotted, it gets 3 beats. To illustrate, the value of a half note is 2, half of 2 is 1 so 2 + 1 = 3.
Multiple dots increase the length an additional half the time of the previous dot, so a half note with two dots (also known as double-dotted) is calculated 2+1+ 1/2 = 3 1/2 beats, and a triple-dotted half note equals 2+1+1/2+1/4 = 3 3/4.
The table below lists the type of dotted note/rest and its duration depending on the number of dots. Musical pieces with more than three dots are rare.
Dotted Notes and Rests and Their Duration
Dotted Note Dotted Rest No Dots One Dot Two Dots Three Dots
whole note whole rest 4 6 7 7 1/2
half note half rest 2 3 3 1/2 3 /3/4
quarter note quarter rest 1 1 1/2 1 3/4 1 7/8
eighth note eighth rest 1/2 3/4 7/8 15/16
sixteenth note sixteenth rest 1/4 3/8 7/16 15/32
Sources:
Epstein D. 1995 Shaping Time: Music, the Brain, and Performance. New York: Schirmer Books. Gabrielsson A. 1999. Studying Emotional Expression in Music Performance. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education(141):47-53.
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
Symbols of Piano Music
The Italian Commands of Piano Music
Reading Music: Tied Notes
Musical Symbols in Piano Music
Types of Rests and Pauses in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
marcato
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
quadruplet
The Top 100 Best Party Songs of All Time
downbeat
100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time
Top 50 Sexy Pop Songs
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
Notes and rests are dotted—that is to say, a dot is placed to the right of the note or rest—to indicate that the length of time the note is played or the rest is held should be changed in a piece of music. A dot after a note tells the musician that the note or rest should be held half again as long as its normal duration.
Every musical work has an established tempo and most scholars believe that musical tempi are based on human heartbeats. Musicologist David Epstein calls the underlying rhythm of any piece of music a “ground pulse” that in some respects sets the tone for the piece. Dots on notes can elongate or interrupt the beat in a way that is interesting, subconsciously or consciously. When taken as a whole, tempo combined with other variables, such as timing, dynamics, intonation, and timber, defines the emotional content of a piece.
Dotted, Double-Dotted, and Triple-Dotted Notes and Rests
Therefore, dotting a note or a rest changes the regular pattern, by adding half of the value of the note or rest to itself. For example, a half note normally gets two beats, but when it is dotted, it gets 3 beats. To illustrate, the value of a half note is 2, half of 2 is 1 so 2 + 1 = 3.
Multiple dots increase the length an additional half the time of the previous dot, so a half note with two dots (also known as double-dotted) is calculated 2+1+ 1/2 = 3 1/2 beats, and a triple-dotted half note equals 2+1+1/2+1/4 = 3 3/4.
The table below lists the type of dotted note/rest and its duration depending on the number of dots. Musical pieces with more than three dots are rare.
Dotted Notes and Rests and Their Duration
Dotted Note Dotted Rest No Dots One Dot Two Dots Three Dots
whole note whole rest 4 6 7 7 1/2
half note half rest 2 3 3 1/2 3 /3/4
quarter note quarter rest 1 1 1/2 1 3/4 1 7/8
eighth note eighth rest 1/2 3/4 7/8 15/16
sixteenth note sixteenth rest 1/4 3/8 7/16 15/32
Sources:
Epstein D. 1995 Shaping Time: Music, the Brain, and Performance. New York: Schirmer Books. Gabrielsson A. 1999. Studying Emotional Expression in Music Performance. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education(141):47-53.
Notes and rests are dotted—that is to say, a dot is placed to the right of the note or rest—to indicate that the length of time the note is played or the rest is held should be changed in a piece of music. A dot after a note tells the musician that the note or rest should be held half again as long as its normal duration.
Every musical work has an established tempo and most scholars believe that musical tempi are based on human heartbeats. Musicologist David Epstein calls the underlying rhythm of any piece of music a “ground pulse” that in some respects sets the tone for the piece. Dots on notes can elongate or interrupt the beat in a way that is interesting, subconsciously or consciously. When taken as a whole, tempo combined with other variables, such as timing, dynamics, intonation, and timber, defines the emotional content of a piece.
Dotted, Double-Dotted, and Triple-Dotted Notes and Rests
Therefore, dotting a note or a rest changes the regular pattern, by adding half of the value of the note or rest to itself. For example, a half note normally gets two beats, but when it is dotted, it gets 3 beats. To illustrate, the value of a half note is 2, half of 2 is 1 so 2 + 1 = 3.
Multiple dots increase the length an additional half the time of the previous dot, so a half note with two dots (also known as double-dotted) is calculated 2+1+ 1/2 = 3 1/2 beats, and a triple-dotted half note equals 2+1+1/2+1/4 = 3 3/4.
The table below lists the type of dotted note/rest and its duration depending on the number of dots. Musical pieces with more than three dots are rare.
Dotted Notes and Rests and Their Duration
Dotted Note Dotted Rest No Dots One Dot Two Dots Three Dots
whole note whole rest 4 6 7 7 1/2
half note half rest 2 3 3 1/2 3 /3/4
quarter note quarter rest 1 1 1/2 1 3/4 1 7/8
eighth note eighth rest 1/2 3/4 7/8 15/16
sixteenth note sixteenth rest 1/4 3/8 7/16 15/32
Sources:
Epstein D. 1995 Shaping Time: Music, the Brain, and Performance. New York: Schirmer Books. Gabrielsson A. 1999. Studying Emotional Expression in Music Performance. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education(141):47-53.
Sources:
Epstein D. 1995 Shaping Time: Music, the Brain, and Performance. New York: Schirmer Books.
Gabrielsson A. 1999. Studying Emotional Expression in Music Performance. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education(141):47-53.
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
Symbols of Piano Music
The Italian Commands of Piano Music
Reading Music: Tied Notes
Musical Symbols in Piano Music
Types of Rests and Pauses in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
marcato
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
quadruplet
The Top 100 Best Party Songs of All Time
downbeat
100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time
Top 50 Sexy Pop Songs
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
Symbols of Piano Music
Symbols of Piano Music
The Italian Commands of Piano Music
The Italian Commands of Piano Music
Reading Music: Tied Notes
Reading Music: Tied Notes
Musical Symbols in Piano Music
Musical Symbols in Piano Music
Types of Rests and Pauses in Music
Types of Rests and Pauses in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
marcato
marcato
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
quadruplet
quadruplet
The Top 100 Best Party Songs of All Time
The Top 100 Best Party Songs of All Time
downbeat
downbeat
100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time
100 of the Best Pop Songs of All Time
Top 50 Sexy Pop Songs
Top 50 Sexy Pop Songs
Home
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
Home
Home
Entertainment
Careers
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Humor
About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
About Us
Advertise
Careers
Privacy Policy
Editorial Guidelines
Contact
Terms of Use
EU Privacy
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
