Earlier we learned about the value of the various notes.? Now we will learn how the value can be changed by adding a dot immediately after it.? The duration of any note can be increased by half of it's original value by adding a dot.

In some music you will find notes with a dot under or over a note.? That means something different which will be covered later.? Please do not confuse the two.? We are dealing here with dots that come immediately after a note, as in our example.
You are? familiar with the minim.????



What is it's value??? It's worth 2 beats isn't it?

When a dot comes after it.

It is called a dotted minim and is worth 3 beats.? There are 2 beats for the minim and 1 beat for the dot making a total of 3 beats.? PLEASE NOTE:? A dot is worth half of the original value of the note. NOT half a beat.? Let's repeat that.? A dot is worth half of the original value of the note.? NOT half a beat

?Can you remember what this note is called?:

If you said CROTCHET you are right.? If you didn't know it might be wise to spend more time on lesson 2.? How much is a crotchet worth?? It's worth 1 beat.

When a dot comes after it.

It becomes a dotted crotchet and is worth one and a half beats.?? there is one beat for the crotchet and half of one beat for the dot.? Remember.? For a dot after a note you always add HALF of the ORIGINAL note value.

?Dotted quaver and semiquaver notes will be covered in a later lesson.