Section 3: Note Elements

As with the score elements, some of these terms and definitions you will already be familiar with, but they will be mentioned here again for completeness.

Note & Rest Durations:

1. Whole: Note or rest encompassing all the beats for one full measure, (e.g. in a 4/4-time signature, a whole note would be four beats).
2. Half:Half the duration of a whole. In a 4/4-time signature, a half would be 2 beats).
3. Quarter: Half the duration of a half; one beat.
4. Eighth: Half of the duration of a quarter. In 4/4 time, each beat is divided by two.
5. Sixteenth: Half the duration of an eighth.
6. Thirty-second: Half the duration of a sixteenth.
7. Sixty-fourth: Half the duration of a thirty-second.

Accidentals:

1. Natural: A symbol placed by a note signifying that the note itself should be played as opposed to the sharp or flat of the note.
2. Flat: An accidental symbol placed to the left of a note, indicating that it's pitch should be lowered by a half step.
3. Sharp: A symbol placed in front of a note-head which implies that the performer should raise the pitch of that particular note by a semitone, (half step).
4. Double Sharp: An accidental symbol placed to the left of a note indicating that the note is to be raised by two half steps.
5. Double Flat: An accidental sign consisting of two flat symbols that lower a note by two half steps.

Note Properties:

1. Accent: A stress or special emphasis on a beat to mark its position in the measure.
2. Dotted: A mark that represents a duration directive in musical notation. When placed to the right of the note head, the dot indicates that a note should have half again its original duration, or 1 1/2 duration.
3. Double-Dotted: A mark that represents a duration directive in musical notation. When placed to the right of the note head, the dot indicates that a note should have three-quarters again its original duration, or 1 3/4.
4. Slur: A sign in musical notation consisting of a curved line drawn over or under a series of notes, indicating that those notes should be played legato, (smooth, graceful, and connected manner).
5. Tie: A curved line drawn over or under the heads of two notes of the same pitch indicating that there should be no break between them but they should be played as a single note.
6. Flag: The mark added to a note stem to indicate the beat division of that note.
7. Beam: A thick horizontal line that is used to replace the flags of a series of two or more notes that form a rhythmic grouping.
8. Tenuto: A directive to perform a certain note or chord of a composition in a sustained manner for longer than its full duration.
9. Stem: The vertical line attached to the note head.
10. Ledger Line: The short, horizontal lines added to the top or the bottom of a staff for the reception of notes too high or too low to be represented on the staff proper.