Note Values & Rests
Understanding the duration of sound. How we measure time in music.
In music, the shape of a note tells you how long to play it. This is called its value or duration. It works like strict mathematics: each distinct shape represents a specific fraction of time.
In a standard 4/4 time signature (the most common in the world), the Whole Note lasts for 4 beats—an entire measure. Everything else is a fraction of that.
The Rhythm Tree
Click on any note to hear its duration. Notice how each level splits the time in half.
Duration Reference Table
A complete overview of note and rest values used in standard notation.
Click a note to split it in two