Grade One Music Theory - Lesson 6: Dotted Notes
Suitable for: ABRSM Grade 1 Trinity Grade 1 GCSE AP Music Theory Beginners
What are Dotted Notes?
In music theory, all notes and rests can have their lengths increased if we add one or more dots.
For Grade 1 music theory, you only need to understand what happens when we add one dot. Notes with dots are called dotted notes.
(For Grade 1 Trinity, you'll only be tested on dotted minims (dotted half notes)).
Dots are always placed on the right side of the note head.
A dot makes a note (or rest) longer by 50%. Or, in other words, a dotted note is equal to itself, plus half of itself.
Let's say a crotchet (or "quarter note" in the USA) is worth one beat.
Crotchet (quarter note)=
1 beat
If we add a dot to the note, its length is increased by 50% (the note plus half its length).
Dotted crotchet (quarter note)=
1 + 1/2 beat = 1 and a half beats
A minim (half note) is worth two beats.
If we add a dot, its length is also increased by 50%.
Dotted minim/half note=
2 + 1 = 3 beats
A quaver (eighth note) is worth half a beat.
Adding a dot increases its length by 50%.
If you find it difficult to think in numbers, try something more refreshing, like an orange! Point your cursor at the fruit to see what it represents.
One whole orange is like one whole beat, or a crotchet (quarter note).
It's the same size as ...
...two half oranges (quavers/eighth notes)
or even
four quarter oranges (semiquavers/sixteenth notes).
If you add a dot to a note, it's like adding a smaller bit of orange to the bit you've already got. One whole orange plus half an orange would be called a "dotted whole orange"! One half orange plus one quarter orange would be a "dotted half orange"! 