A dot placed to the right of the note-head or to the right of a rest, increases its time-value by half.
Examples:
A dotted whole note is equivalent to a whole note and a half note. A dotted semibreve is equivalent to a semibreve and a minim.
A dotted quarter note is equivalent to a quarter note and a eighth note. A dotted crotchet is equivalent to a crotchet and a quaver.
A dotted eighth rest is equivalent to a eighth rest and a sixteenth rest. A dotted quaver rest is equivalent to a quaver rest and a semiquaver rest.
Double dots
When a second dot is placed to the right of the first dot, it increases the time-value of the first dot by half:
- First dot: Increase the time-value of the music note by half.
- Second dot: Increase the time-value of the first do by half (a quarter of the note/rest).
Examples:
A double dotted whole note is equivalent to a whole note and a half note and a quarter note. A double dotted semi breve is equivalent to a semi breve and a minim and a crotchet.
A double dotted eighth rest is equivalent to a eighth rest and a sixteenth rest and a thirty-second rest. A double dotted quaver rest is equivalent to a quaver rest and a semiquaver rest and a demisemiquaver rest.
Ties
Ties merge multiple notes of the same pitch:
Ties can be used across bars (barlines ) :
Fermata
The fermata, also called hold or bird's eye, is a semicircle containing a dot which may lie above or below a note or rest or over a bar (barline ). The fermata indicates that the note (or rest) should be prolonged beyond the normal duration.
