music fundamentals for the audio engineer

RECORDING CONNECTION

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Presents:

Music Fundamentals

Lesson One: Note Values

In order to become the best music writer and music producer, understanding how to read and write music is essential.

In this series we will cover the basics and teach you how to read and write music in short time.

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Introduction

Tail

Head

Stem

Anatomy of a Note

= Whole Note

This note value means you hold that note where that symbol is placed for an entire measure/bar, or 4 beats when in 4/4 time.

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Note Values

= Half Note

Half notes require you to hold your note for half a measure. Two half notes make up one full measure.

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Note Values

= Quarter Note

Quarter notes require you to hold your note for quarter measure. Four quarter notes make up one full measure.

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Note Values

= Eighth Note

Eighth notes require you to hold your note for an eighth of a measure. Eight eighth notes make up one full measure.

In musical notation, eighth notes can be connected with a single bar at the top of the stem.

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Note Values

= Sixteenth Note

Sixteenth notes require you to hold your note for a sixteenth of a measure. 16 sixteenth notes make up one full measure.

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Note Values

In musical notation, sixteenth notes can be connected with a double bar at the top of the stem.

Note Conversion Chart

Whole Note 1 Note = 4 Beats

2 Notes = 4 Beats

4 Notes = 4 Beats

8 Notes = 4 Beats

Half Note

Quarter Note

Eighth Note

...And so on.

Next Lesson:Rest Values