Learn To Read Music

Learn to read music. Welcome to lesson three of our guide. Ready to learn music? Then lets go.

In this lesson we are going to learn about the different types of notes there are in music

Although we say types the reality is each type only actually tells you the notes value or time duration. Once we've got our head around this playing music becomes relatively easy.

Learn To Read Music - The Note Family Tree

It's important to note that there are two different terms for each note. The british term and the american term.

If you see a term that relates to fractions (quarter, half etc) these are american. Anything else is brit speak. I find the fractions easier to remember so they are listed first

Starting at the top of the tree, the biggest note is the whole note or semibreve.

This is the longest note in the bag and in a 4/4 time signature this note would account for all four quarter beats.

Musically, it is written as seen with no stem. (That's the line you will see extending up or down from some other notes)

Learn To Read Music - The Half Note

The half note or minim does exactly what it says it does. It's duration is exactly half of a whole note.

Note the stem. This seperates it from a whole note. The stem will usually point down for any note placed on or above the middle line on the staff. If the stem points down its should originate from the left side of the note. If it points up it will originate from the right side of the note. This is the same for all notes with stems.

Learn To Read Music - The Quarter Note

The quarter note or crochet follows in line with the half note. It is exactly one quarter duration of a whole note.

The quarter note is probably the most common note you will see as you start to learn to read music.

Learn To Read Music - The Eighth Note

We are getting a bit flashier now. The eighth note is the first note with a stem and a tail or flag. Don't forget, the stem and flag can be either way, up or down, depending on the position of the note on the staff.

How To Read Music - The Sixteenth Note

Not too difficult to guess whats been added. It has two tails or flags instead of one.. As you would guess it plays one sixteenth duration of a whole note.

More Learn to Read Music

So how did you find that one? Not so tough to learn the basic notes?

Don't kid yourself by thinking you've learned all you need to know about musical notes. There's many more configurations to learn but not for this lesson.

It shouldn't take you too much time to learn the above but do take your time if you feel you need to.

Feel ready to learn some more? Great! Click on the links below to take you to the next lessons in learn to read music.

Back To Lesson One Of How To Read Music - The Staff

Back To Lesson Two Of How To Read Sheet Music - Bars, Treble Clef and Time Signatures

Lesson Four Of Learn To Read Sheet Music - Sharps, Flats & Naturals

Lesson Five Of Learn To Play Music - Types Of Rests

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