Musical Family Trees
Note Family Tree
In music notation, the duration of sound is indicated by the symbols to the left known as a note.
The whole note is worth the longest duration, four beats.
The whole note breaks down into two half notes which are worth half as much as the whole note, or two beats.
The half notes break down into two quarter notes which are worth one quarter of a whole note, or one beat.
The quarter notes break down into two eighth notes which are worth one eighth of a whole note, or 1/2 of a beat.
The eighth notes break down into two sixteenth notes which are worth one sixteenth of a whole note, or 1/4 of a beat.
In music notation, the duration of sound is indicated by the symbols to the left known as a note.
The whole note is worth the longest duration, four beats.
The whole note breaks down into two half notes which are worth half as much as the whole note, or two beats.
The half notes break down into two quarter notes which are worth one quarter of a whole note, or one beat.
The quarter notes break down into two eighth notes which are worth one eighth of a whole note, or 1/2 of a beat.
The eighth notes break down into two sixteenth notes which are worth one sixteenth of a whole note, or 1/4 of a beat.
Rest Family Tree
In music notation, the duration of silence is indicated by the symbols to the right known as a rest.
The whole rest is worth the longest duration, four beats. (Note that the black box is below the line.)
The whole rest breaks down into two half rests which are worth half as much as the whole rest, or two beats. (Note that the black box is above the line and looks like a top hat.)
The half rests break down into two quarter rests which are worth one quarter of a whole rest, or one beat.
The quarter rests break down into two eighth rests which are worth one eighth of a whole rest, or 1/2 of a beat.
The eighth rests break down into two sixteenth rests which are worth one sixteenth of a whole rest, or 1/4 of a beat.
In music notation, the duration of silence is indicated by the symbols to the right known as a rest.
The whole rest is worth the longest duration, four beats. (Note that the black box is below the line.)
The whole rest breaks down into two half rests which are worth half as much as the whole rest, or two beats. (Note that the black box is above the line and looks like a top hat.)
The half rests break down into two quarter rests which are worth one quarter of a whole rest, or one beat.
The quarter rests break down into two eighth rests which are worth one eighth of a whole rest, or 1/2 of a beat.
The eighth rests break down into two sixteenth rests which are worth one sixteenth of a whole rest, or 1/4 of a beat.
The Siblings: Flats and Sharps
When a flat is added before a note, the tone of that note is lowered by 1/2 tone.
When a sharp is added before a note, the tone of that note is raised by 1/2 tone.