What Are Eighth Notes

Understanding Eighth Notes (Quavers)

Now we're going to have a look at eighth notes, or quavers.

Duration

• Eighth notes last for half a count, so 2 eighth notes fit into one quarter note.

Counting Eighth Notes

When we start looking at how to count eighth notes, we have to do what's called subdividing, because we're now working with fractions.

Previously, we were counting:

• 1, 2, 3, 4.

To count eighth notes, we'll do:

• 1 and 2 and 3 and 4

And with an eighth note falling on each of those syllables.

Comparison of Quarter Notes to Eighth Notes

Let me show you what it would look like:

• Quarter Notes:

  • 1, 2, 3, 4
  • 1, 2, 3, 4

• Eighth Notes:

  • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
  • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

Alternative Perspective

It can also be easier for some people to think about timing the notes by two rather than dividing them.

So if it makes sense for you, you might now think of:

• A quarter note as having two
• An eighth note as having one.

Different people's brains work differently, so do what works best for you.

Practice

Let's look at this in practice.