Mark Henderson answered
Duration in music means the amount of time of any particular interval such as a note or rest. It is a fundamental aspect of the rhythm and the melody of a song and is measured in beats.
In written music, different note symbols are used to denote how long each note should be held down or how long each rest should be. There are five types of notes and rest, each donating the duration measured in beats.
Semibreve (Whole Note)
- Equivalent to 4 crotchets.
- In a 4/4 time signature this symbol means that the note or rest should last 4 beats or one whole bar.
Minim (Half Note)
- Equivalent to 2 crotchets.
- In a 4/4 time signature this denotes that the rest or note should last two beats or half a bar.
Crotchet (Quarter Note)
- Equals 1 crotchet
- In 4/4 this instructs the musician to play one note per one beat of the bar. It is a quarter of the bar.
Quaver (Eight Note)
- Equals 1/2 a crotchet
- In 4/4 it means the note or rest should last an eighth of a bar.
Semi-Quaver (16th Note)
- Equals 1/4 of a crotchet
- In 4/4, as the name suggests the note or rest should last a 16th of the bar.
In written music, different note symbols are used to denote how long each note should be held down or how long each rest should be. There are five types of notes and rest, each donating the duration measured in beats.
Semibreve (Whole Note)
- Equivalent to 4 crotchets.
- In a 4/4 time signature this symbol means that the note or rest should last 4 beats or one whole bar.
Minim (Half Note)
- Equivalent to 2 crotchets.
- In a 4/4 time signature this denotes that the rest or note should last two beats or half a bar.
Crotchet (Quarter Note)
- Equals 1 crotchet
- In 4/4 this instructs the musician to play one note per one beat of the bar. It is a quarter of the bar.
Quaver (Eight Note)
- Equals 1/2 a crotchet
- In 4/4 it means the note or rest should last an eighth of a bar.
Semi-Quaver (16th Note)
- Equals 1/4 of a crotchet
- In 4/4, as the name suggests the note or rest should last a 16th of the bar.
