Duplets
We have already learnt about triplets. Just to refresh your memory, triplets are used when we want to play three notes in the space where there would normally be two: The …
Music theory lessons for ABRSM and Trinity candidates
Most time signatures that we meet in the music we play with a lower number 8, are compound time, but there are also simple time signatures with an 8 below. …
Compound /4 Time Signatures Time signatures with 6, 9 or 12 on top and 4 below are compound time. They work very much like their compound /8 counterparts (6/8, 9/8 …
Double Dots A single dot to the right of a note head increases the length of the note by 50% (the note plus half of itself). So, a dotted minim …
Breves The longest note we have come across in earlier theory grades is the semibreve (whole note)- written as an open note-head without a stem. We’ll now learn about a …
What is Rewriting? We can rewrite a melody using different value notes, without changing the rhythm. For example, here’s a rhythm in 3/4: And here’s the same rhythm in 3/2: …
Grouping & Beaming Notes A beam is the line that joins together. In the ABRSM Grade 3 music theory exam you might be asked to find a bar with the …
Here are the rests you need to know for the grade 3 music theory exam, in order of length, starting with the longest: semibreve – minim – crotchet – quaver …
Table of Note Names UK v. USA Simple Time Signatures Up till now you have only learnt about simple time signatures. (Perhaps you didn’t think they were very “simple” though!) …
The smallest note you will have come across in your music theory exams so far is the semiquaver. Remember that 4 semiquavers are worth 1 crotchet. A semiquaver has two …