BazzLow
ENIT
Module 2 · Lesson 6

Dots and ties

Read dotted notes and tied notes, and count their exact length.

Before this lesson: 2.4 Counting eighth notes

Not every length is a clean half or double. Dots and ties let you write the lengths in between.

The dot

A dot after a note adds half of its value:

  • dotted half note = 2 + 1 = 3 beats;
  • dotted quarter note = 1 + ½ = 1½ beats;
  • dotted eighth note = ½ + ¼ = ¾ of a beat.

Rests can be dotted too, with the same rule.

The tie

A tie is a curved line joining two notes of the same pitch. You play the first note and hold it through the second: the lengths add up. Ties are needed to hold a note across a barline, and they also show where the beats fall inside a bar.

Do not confuse the tie with the slur, a similar curve joining different pitches. A slur asks for a smooth, connected sound, called legato.

Rhythm lineTwo bars of 4/4. Bar 1: a dotted half note (3 beats) and a quarter note. Bar 2: a half note tied to a quarter note, then another quarter note. The dotted half note and the tied half and quarter notes both last 3 beats.4412341234
Two bars of 4/4. Bar 1: a dotted half note (3 beats) and a quarter note. Bar 2: a half note tied to a quarter note, then another quarter note. The dotted half note and the tied half and quarter notes both last 3 beats.

A very common bass rhythm

The dotted quarter note followed by an eighth note is a very common bass rhythm. Count it “1 (2) &”: the first note lasts a beat and a half, and the eighth note lands on the off-beat.

Rhythm lineOne bar of 4/4: a dotted quarter note and an eighth note, twice. Counts: 1 2 & 3 4 &. The eighth notes fall on the "&" of 2 and of 4.4412&34&
One bar of 4/4: a dotted quarter note and an eighth note, twice. Counts: 1 2 & 3 4 &. The eighth notes fall on the "&" of 2 and of 4.
Try it

At 70 BPM, play a dotted half note plus a quarter note in each bar for 4 bars. Then play dotted quarter + eighth, twice per bar, counting “1 2 & 3 4 &”.

New terms