Understanding Note Values

Lesson 6/69 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Chromatic Harmonica Method

Understanding Note Values

The table of notes shows every note type you are likely to encounter, with the corresponding rests for each in the next column (note rests). Here are a few points to help you understand note values:

Tempo (beats per minute) dictates the speed of a piece of music. If the tempo is 3 = 60, one quarter note is being played every second. If the time signature is *, the information contained within one bar must run for the same duration as four quarter notes (or four seconds). Any note type(s) can be used within the bar. Therefore, note values are like fractions, dividing the amount of notes being played over a specific time period into different amounts. At a fixed tempo, the greater the number of notes per bar, the greater the speed at which they are played.
In * time, the digits 1-4 and the sounds e, + , a , r are used when counting, to signify fractional divisions of the bar.
Wherever possible, notes are grouped together to make reading easier e.g., sixteenth notes are grouped together in fours rather than written individually.

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Class Sessions

1- INTRODUCTION 2- More About Major Scales 3- Sharps (<span class="symbolA">#</span>) and Flats (<span class="symbolA">b</span>) 4- Playing the Chromatic Scale 5- Solving Reading Problems 6- More About Keys and Key Signatures 7- Transposing 8- More About Blues Scales 9- Understanding Intervals 10- Minor Keys and Scales 11- Notes on the Chromatic Harmonica 12- Relative Keys 13- Performing in Public 14- Interval Qualities 15- Playing Octaves 16- The Key Cycle 17- The Harmonic Minor Scale 18- Sharp Key Signatures 19- Enharmonic Notes 20- Learning a New Minor Key 21- Major Scale Pattern 22- Overcoming Nerves 23- The Chromatic Harmonica 24- The Chromatic Scale 25- The C Major Scale 26- Swinging Notes 27- Intervals 28- Breathing Indicators 29- The Key of E Minor 30- Interval Distances 31- Major Scales in all Keys 32- The Melodic Minor Scale 33- Minor Scales in all Keys 34- Flat Key Signatures 35- The Blues Scale 36- Holding the Chromatic Harmonica 37- Eye Contact 38- The G Major Scale 39- Range of the Chromatic Harmonica 40- Table of Minor Scales 41- Understanding Music 42- Stage Presence and Stage Craft 43- Identifying Intervals by Ear 44- Using the Slide 45- Key Signatures 46- Using the Key Cycle 47- Note Values 48- Understanding Note Values 49- Developing Your Own Style 50- The F Major Scale 51- Jam Along Progressions 52- Standard Music Notation 53- Learning the Notes on the Staff 54- The Metronome 55- Microphones 56- Developing Your Music Reading 57- Keeping Time 58- Microphones for Performing Live 59- Playing Songs 60- Amplification 61- Slurs 62- Overdrive 63- Cut Common Time 64- Approach to Practice 65- Reading Without Numbers 66- Listening 67- Transcribing 68- Recording Yourself 69- Learning More about Music

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Understanding Note Values