Mark Henderson answered
Quarter notes (crotchets) are a filled in black oval note head with a straight flag-less stem.
A quarter note is played for one quarter of a whole note (a semibreve) which is notated by a hollow oval note head. In the most common time signature of 4/4, each quarter note represents one beat of the bar. In this instance a whole note would be four beats and would fill the whole bar, therefore each quarter note represents the 1,2,3,4 beats.
Notes and Rests.
The related rest to the quarter note is known as the quarter rest or crotchet rest. This rest lasts the same amount of time as a quarter note except that no note is played. A quarter note is one of the most commonly written musical notes. In terms of duration, a quarter note lasts for half the length of a half note (minim) and twice the length of an eighth note (quaver).
The stem of a quarter note will usually point upwards if the note is below the middle line of the stave. The stem will point downwards if the note is on or above the middle line. The middle line is middle C on a piano.
The stem of a quarter note will usually point upwards if the note is below the middle line of the stave. The stem will point downwards if the note is on or above the middle line. The middle line is middle C on a piano.
- Filled in oval head with a flag-less stem.
- Quarter the length of a whole note (semibreve).
- Half the length of a half note (minim).
- Double the length of an eight note (quaver).
- In 4/4 a quarter note represents one of the four beats of the bar.