Half Notes

Meet the Half Note

In the last lesson, you learned that a quarter note lasts for one beat.

Now you’ll meet a note that lasts longer.

A half note has an open notehead and a stem:

A half note lasts for two beats.

That means you play the note on the first beat and keep holding it while the second beat passes.

Count Half Notes

Count steadily:

1 — 2

Play the note on 1, but don’t play it again on 2.

Instead, keep holding it while you count the second beat.

With two half notes, you can count:

1 — 2 | 1 — 2

The steady beat continues even while you are holding the note.

Hold for Two Beats

Place your right-hand thumb on Middle C.

Play Middle C on 1 and keep the key held down while you count:

1 — 2

Then release it.

Try it again several times. Keep counting at the same steady pace.

Quarter Notes and Half Notes

Now compare the two note values:

♩ = 1 beat

𝅗𝅥 = 2 beats

A quarter note is played once for one beat.

A half note is also played once, but you hold it while two beats pass.

You’ve learned half notes.

You can now recognise a half note, count its two beats, and hold a note while the steady beat continues.