Dots, Ties, and Triplets
Flashcards on extending and dividing beats with dotted notes, ties, and triplets.
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Questions Covered in This Set
11 cards to master
What does a dot after a notehead do?
It adds half of that note's own value (e.g., half note + dot = 3 beats in 4/4).
How many beats is a dotted quarter note in 4/4?
1½ beats (quarter = 1 + eighth = ½).
How long is a dotted eighth note?
¾ of a beat (eighth ½ + sixteenth ¼).
What is a double-dotted half note worth in 4/4?
3½ beats (2 + 1 + ½); each dot adds half of the previous dot's value.
What is a tie?
A curved line joining two noteheads of the SAME pitch: play once and hold for the combined value.
Why are ties needed at all?
Note values can't be written across a barline, and ties keep the beat structure visible/legible.
Tie vs. slur — what's the difference?
Same pitch = tie (one sound); different pitches = slur (separate notes played smoothly/legato).
What is an eighth-note triplet?
Three eighth notes played in the time of one quarter note, marked with a small 3.
How do you count eighth triplets?
"1-trip-let, 2-trip-let" (or 1-la-li) — three even notes per beat.
Does the beat speed change during triplets?
No — only the subdivision changes from two per beat to three per beat.
How can you feel a quarter-note triplet?
Play six eighth triplets across two beats and sound only notes 1, 3, and 5.
