Lesson 03.4
Whole Notes
Learn how whole notes work and practise holding a note for four steady beats.
โ Beginner level
โฅ ย Whole notes
โ Rhythm
Lesson Progress
Meet the Whole Note
In the last lesson, you learned that a half note lasts for two beats. Now youโll learn a note that lasts even longer.
A whole note has an open notehead and no stem:
A whole note lasts for four beats.
Play the note on beat 1, then keep holding it while you count:
1 โ 2 โ 3 โ 4
The steady beat continues while the note is held.
Hear a Whole Note
Press Start and listen. Each whole note begins on beat 1 and continues through beats 2, 3 and 4.
Count Whole Notes
Each whole note lasts for four beats.
For example:
๐ ๐
means:
4 + 4 = 8 beats
Count the Whole Notes
Count the whole notes. How many beats do they last altogether?
How many beats altogether?
Compare the Note Values
This is also a good point for a very small recap:
โฉ Quarter note = 1 beat
๐
๐
ฅ Half note = 2 beats
๐
Whole note = 4 beats
Compare Note Values
Compare how long each note lasts. Press Play to hear the difference.
Check What You Remember
Review whole notes and some of the skills you learned earlier.
0 of 10 correct
Youโve learned whole notes.
You can now recognise a whole note, count its four beats, and hold a note while the steady beat continues.