Lesson 11: Rewriting with Different Time Values

What is Rewriting?

We can rewrite a melody using different value notes, without changing the rhythm. For example, here’s a rhythm in 3/4:

And here’s the same rhythm in 3/2:

The time signature changes – but only the bottom number. This is because we have kept the same number of beats per bar (3), but we have changed the type of beat from a crotchet in the first example, to a minim in the second example.

A minim is worth two crotchets, so the notes in the second example are twice the value of those in the first one. The notes in the first example are half the value.

Rhythms written at twice the value use slower note values.

Be careful! If we write a rhythm in notes of half the value, we double the bottom number. If we write a rhythm in notes of twice the value, we halve the bottom number. This might seem a little strange at first!

Table of Time Signatures

In grade three you only need to know about these time signatures for this question:

(Compound time signatures will not come up in this part of the exam.)

Table of Notes

Dotted notes don’t need any special treatment. Just add a dot to the new note value.

Table of Rests

How to Rewrite with New Note Values

• Put the new time signature in first.
• On a piece of rough paper, draw a table showing the new note values you’ll need. (For example, if you are rewriting at half the value, write=> . Use this for reference as you do the question – it will help to avoid mistakes.
• Write each new note directly under each original note, so that you don’t run out of space.
• Draw note stems and barlines with a ruler.
• Don’t forget to add any accidentals.
• Don’t forget to beam quavers and semiquavers together.
• Check your work by carefully counting up the beats in each bar.