Music Symbols
Symbol
Name
What it Means
Symbol
Name
What it Means
Staff
(or Stave)
We write notes on the staff
Quarter Notes or Crotchets
Dotted Quarter Notes
1 beat each
1½ beats each
Treble Clef
Tells us where to write notes on the staff
Half Notes
or Minims
Dotted Half Notes
2 beats each
3 beats each
Four Four Time Signature
4 beats in each bar
Quarter or Crotchet Rest
Don’t play any note, count for 1 beat
Three Four Time Signature
3 beats in each bar
Half or
Minim Rest
Don’t play any note, count for 2 beats
Eighth Notes
or Quavers
½
beat each
Sharp Sign
Flat Sign
Makes notes higher
Makes notes lower
Music Symbols
Staff (or Stave)
We write notes on the staff
Treble Clef
Tells us where to write notes on the staff
Four Four Time Signature
4 beats in each bar
Three Four Time Signature
3 beats in each bar
Eighth Notes or Quavers
½ beat each
Quarter Notes or Crotchets
1 beat each
Dotted Quarter Notes
1½ beats each
Half Notes or Minims
2 beats each
Dotted Half Notes
3 beats each
Quarter or Crotchet Rest
Don’t play any note, count for 1 beat
Half or Minim Rest
Don’t play any note, count for 2 beats
Sharp Sign
Makes notes higher