Aquallegro Help > Modules

# Notation - Beats

Determine how many beats are in a series of notes.

### Setup
Dots Use these radio buttons to select what dots will be used in the quiz: double dots, single dots, or no dots at all. Types of Notes Use these checkboxes to select which types of notes will be used in the quiz. Time Signatures Use these checkboxes to select which time signatures will be used in the quiz. Note that in the beats quiz, the top number of the time signature is not specified, as it is irrelevant.

### Learning the Beats
Time Signatures Time signatures are placed at the beginning of a piece, and contain a top number and a bottom number. The top number represents how many beats there are in a measure, and the bottom number represents what type of note gets a beat. For example, in 3/4, there are 3 beats per measure and a quarter note gets a beat. In 6/8, there are 6 beats per measure and an eighth note gets a beat. Notes Each consecutive note in this list is worth half of the previously listed note (which makes sense from their names).
### Note Name | ### Length in ?/2 | ### Length in ?/4 | ### Length in ?/8
Double whole note | 4 beats | 8 beats | 16 beats
Whole note | 2 beats | 4 beats | 8 beats
Half note | 1 beat | 2 beats | 4 beats
Quarter note | 1/2 a beat | 1 beat | 2 beats
Eighth note | 1/4 a beat | 1/2 a beat | 1 beat
Sixteenth note | 1/8 a beat | 1/4 a beat | 1/2 a beat
Dots In addition to standing on its own, any note can be dotted or double-dotted. A dot adds 1/2 the note's original value, and a second dot adds 1/4 (therefore, in total, two dots together would add 3/4). Therefore, for example, a doubly dotted quarter note in 4/4 would be worth 1 and 3/4 beats.