How do i count music notes?
Feel the pulse then start to count out loud. Most songs are 4 beats per bar. So you might count 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. (representing two bars). If there is a note that you are particularly interested in then work out how many counts you make for that note. Say the note starts on the second beat of the bar and last for two counts, ie. 2, 3 – then the note is two beats long and that would be called a minim. Below I have listed the lengths of a note and the name: 1/16 Hemidemisemiquaver (I wouldn’t even attempt to try and work out that note by listening to it – if you were to see it written down then it would be a black dot, a beam and 4 tails). 1/8 Demisemiquaver (again don’t attempt to count this note – written on manuscript as a black dot, a beam and 3 tails). 1/4 Semiquaver (a trained ear might work out that note was being played as a semiquaver – written as a black dot, a beam and 2 tails). 1/2 Quaver (this is half of a crotchet (one beat as described below) – written as a black
