We've now covered three types of note length - the semibreve (4 counts), the minim (2 counts) and the crotchet (1 count). As you can see, each type of note is worth half (or twice) the next type of note.
The semibreve is probably the longest note you will come across in most music (although there is a note called a "breve" which is worth eight counts, it's rarely seen).
The note which is half the length of a crotchet is the quaver. A quaver is worth half a count, or if you prefer, two quavers equal one count.
Quavers look like crotchets in that they have black heads and a tail, but they also have a tail.
The way the tail is written depends on a few things. Quavers can either be written individually, like this:
or joined to other quavers, like this:
When one tail of a quaver joins together with another note, it means they are both quavers. The joining line is called a "beam".
Sing/listen to this short melody, which uses crotchets and quavers. The woodblock keeps a steady beat for you.
Now try to sight sing these melodies.
Top G
So far we've learnt all the notes up from middle C to the C an octave higher. Let's add the rest of the notes which fill up the lines and spaces above C.
Earlier, we found the interval of an octave from middle C to C. Try to learn to recognise this interval by sight - an octave leap is always the same size on the page. Octaves always go from a line to a space or vice versa. If you see a leap which goes from a space to a space, or a line to a line, then it can't be an octave. Here are the octave leaps from C to G:
Singing Practice
Now try to sing these short melodies, which use notes up to top G and also use lots of different note lengths! As usual, click the play button to check what you are singing.
