Crotchet facts for kids
A quarter note (also called a crotchet) is a musical note that gets one beat in many songs. It's a very common note you'll see in music! It gets its name because it lasts for one-fourth (a quarter) of a whole note.
A quarter note looks like a filled-in oval shape (called the note head) with a straight line (called the stem) coming out of it. Unlike some other notes, it doesn't have any flags or beams.
The stem of a quarter note usually points upwards if the note head is below the middle line of the musical staff. If the note head is on or above the middle line, the stem usually points downwards. This helps make the music easier to read.
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What is a Quarter Note?
A quarter note is a basic building block in music. It helps musicians know how long to play a sound. Think of it like a single step when you're walking – it's a steady, regular beat.
How Long Does a Quarter Note Last?
The length of a quarter note is always one-fourth of a whole note. A whole note is the longest note in music. So, if a whole note lasts for four beats, a quarter note would last for one beat.
When you first start learning an instrument, you'll often be taught that a quarter note gets one beat. This is true for many common songs, especially those with simple time signatures like 4/4 time. In 4/4 time, there are four beats in each measure, and a quarter note gets one of those beats.
However, it's good to remember that in different types of music or with different time signatures, other notes (like a half note or a dotted note) can also sometimes be counted as one beat. The time signature at the beginning of a piece of music tells you exactly how to count the beats.
How to Count Quarter Notes
Counting quarter notes is usually straightforward. If a song is in 4/4 time, you would count "1, 2, 3, 4" for each measure, and each quarter note would get one of those counts.
For example, if you see four quarter notes in a row, you would play each one as you count:
- Play note 1 on "1"
- Play note 2 on "2"
- Play note 3 on "3"
- Play note 4 on "4"
This steady beat helps musicians play together and keep the rhythm of the song.
Images for kids
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Four quarter notes. Quarter notes are the smallest note value not beamed together
