Reading Music : Beat Unit
So far we have used the quarter note (crotchet) to represent the value of a beat. However, we can actually use any note value as a beat unit. In time signatures, the lower number indicates the type of note that gets one beat (see Time or Meter Signatures for more information).
If we use 2 for the lower number, then the half note (minim) becomes the beat unit. We will now illustrate a series of rhythmic formulas written in the 2/2 time signature. Notice that the half note (minim) now represents a beat, the quarter note (crotchet) a half beat, and the eighth note (quaver) a quarter of a beat.
Visit the Reference Section for more information.
Translated by Dan Román, revised by Sue Talley.
