If we add a dot to a note its duration will increase by half its own value:
Without Dot | With Dot | ||
---|---|---|---|
Note | Equivalence | Note | Equivalence |
A comment by Gary Corcoran: A dotted note equals 3 notes of the next shorter value.
By adding an extra dot you can add half the value of the value added by the first dot. For example, if you add a double dot to a quarter note you will add an eighth (half the value of the quarter note) and a sixteenth note (half the value of the eighth note):