Dotted Notes & Ties
Two ways to stretch a note beyond its standard length — one adds a fraction, the other joins two notes end to end.
The dot: add half again
A dot placed after a note adds half of that note's value to its length. A dotted half note is 2 beats + 1 beat (half of 2) = 3 beats. A dotted quarter note is 1 beat + 0.5 beats = 1.5 beats — exactly the length you'll see constantly in compound meter.
The tie: join two notes into one
A tie is a curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch, telling you to play them as one continuous sound instead of two separate attacks. Their durations simply add together — a half note tied to a quarter note lasts 3 beats total, the same length as a dotted half note, just written a different way (often because the note needs to cross a bar line).
Common questions
What does a dot after a note do?
Adds half the note's value to its length — a dotted quarter lasts 1.5 beats.
What does a tie do?
Joins two same-pitch notes into one continuous sound, adding their durations together.
When would you use a tie instead of a dot?
When a note sustains across a bar line, or needs a length a single dot can't represent.
Can a note have more than one dot?
Yes — a second dot adds half the first dot's value, though it's uncommon.
Hear every extended rhythm accurately
Melody Monkey plays dotted rhythms and ties back exactly as written — free to try.
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