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Note values

To be able to read notes and create rhythm one needs to understand the value of notes. Notes are given names that represent their relationship to common time. Awareness of this fact helps in understanding the value of the note and also how time signatures are created.

Below is a chart showing the different types of notes along with their values. Each note is given its American/German name (related to its value) and also its British names: which are used widely by traditional classical musicians.

Figure 14. Note symbols and values

American / German note names	British note names	Note symbols	Note value
Whole note	Semibreve		4 beats
Half note	Minim		2 beats
Quarter note	Crotchet		1 beat
Eighth note	Quaver		1/2 of a beat
Sixteenth note	Semiquaver		1/4 of a beat
Thirty-second note	Demisemiquaver		1/8 of a beat

Next: Rest values

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