Dotted Notes in Staff Music Notation and How to Count Them

Dotted Notes

Dotted notes are staff notes with one or two small dots at the back of the note. We can say that these are the musical notes written but differentiated by one or two dots.

These dots or dots are normally on the right-hand side of the notes. The dot is normally placed after the note to change the duration or length of the note.

This is an indication that the dots are placed at the back of a note to extend its beat value.

Hence, a note with a dot has more beat value than a regular note.

Basically, dots used with dotted notes assist in de-cluttering the music score from the use of ties. It makes musical pieces so much simpler and easier to read.

It is also possible to use dots across bar lines, as we have seen in some compositions. But, in modern staff notation, dotted notes are used only if the value of a note does not stretch over the bar line.

Otherwise, the tied notes will be used. This is because most of the writers in today’s world regard this usage of dots across bar lines as obsolete. In addition, they are advocating the use of a tie across the bar line instead.

In staff music notation, we have two major types of dotted notes. They are single dotted and double dotted notes. We have triple dotted notes also, but the usage of a triple-dotted note value is not common.

Single Dotted Notes

The single dotted note is a staff note with one small dot written at the back of the note. This dot increases the note in question by half (i.e., 1/2) of its original value.

In a nutshell, when a dot is placed near a note, the length of the note is increased by half of its original value.

Actually, this is a 50% increment in the value of a note. This means that if the main note lasts one beat, the dotted equivalent of the note will last one and a half beats.

Also, if a basic note lasts two beats, the dotted equivalent of it will last three beats.

Dotted Semibreve or Whole Notes

This is a semibreve with a dot on its right side, also known as dotted whole notes. In particular, semibreve as a staff note has 4 beats, which is equivalent to 4 crotchets.

If we have a semibreve dotted, its new value will be 6 crotchets. The dot adds half the value of the note to the note (making it half as long again).

Since a semibreve is worth 4 crotchets, and half of 4 is 2, this adds up to give us 6 beats. That is 4 beats + 2 beats = 6 beats. Therefore , the value of a dotted semibreve is 6 beats.

Dotted Minim or Half Notes

This is a minim with a dot on its right side, also known as dotted half notes. Specifically, minim as a staff note has 2 beats, which is equal to 2 crotchets.

If we have a dotted minim, its new value will be 3 crotchets. The dot adds half the value of the original note to the dotted note (making it a half value longer).

Since a minim’s worth is 2 beats (2 crotchets), and half of 2 is 1, this adds up to give us 3 beats. That is 2 beats + 1 beat = 3 beats. Thus , the value of a dotted minim is 3 beats.

Dotted Crotchets or Quarter Notes

This is a crotchet with a dot on its right side, also known as dotted quarter notes. Obviously, crotchets as a staff note have 1 beat, which is equal to 2 quavers.

If we have a crotchet dotted, its new value will be 3 quavers. The dot adds half the value of the note to the note (making it half as long again).

Since a crotchet’s worth is 2 quavers, and half of 1 is ¹/₂, this adds up to give us 1¹/₂ beats. That is 1 beat + ¹/₂ beats = 1¹/₂ beats. Therefore, the value of a dotted crotchet is 1¹/₂ beats.

The example above shows that a single dot after a note increases a note’s value by 50%.

In breaking to crotchet and to quavers, a dotted note is equivalent to writing the basic note tied to a note of half the value.

Double Dotted Notes

Obviously, a double dotted note is a staff note with two small dots written at the back of the note. The dots increase the note in question by three quarters (i.e. ³⁄₄) of its original value.

This is so because the second dot after a note takes half the value of the first dot. In this scenario, the first dot will contribute a 50% increase, and the second dot a 25% increase.

Specifically, a double dot on a note triggers a 75% increment in the value of a note.

In a nutshell, when a double-dot is placed near a note, the length of the note is increased by three-quarters of itself.

The double-dotted as part of staff notation is used less compared to the dotted note.

Double Dotted Semibreve or Whole Notes

This is a semibreve with two dots by its right side also known as Double Dotted Whole Notes. Absolutely, semibreve as a staff note has 4 beats which are equivalent to 4 crotchets.

If we have a semibreve as a double dotted note, its new value will be 7 crotchets. The first dot will add half of the value of the note to the note. And the second dot will add half of the value of the first dot.

Since a semibreve’s worth is 4 beats, half of 4 is 2, and half of 2 is 1. And when we add 4 beats to 2 and 1, it will be summed up to 7 beats. That is 4 beats + 2 beats + 1 beat = 7 beats.

In a nutshell, the value of a double dotted Semibreve is 7 beats.

Double Dotted Minim or Half Notes

This is a minim with two dots by its right side also known as Double Dotted Half Notes. Categorically, minim as a staff note has two beats which are equivalent to two crotchets.

If we have a minim as a double dotted note, its new value will be three crotchets and 1 quaver. The first dot will add half the value of the note to the note. And the second dot will add half of the value of the first dot.

Since a minim’s worth is 2 beats, half of 2 is 1, and half of 1 is ¹/₂. And when we add 2 beats to 1 and ¹/₂, it will be summed up to 3¹/₂ beats. That means 2 beats + 1 beat + ¹/₂ beat = 3 ¹/₂.

In a nutshell, the value of a double dotted Minim is 3 ¹/₂ beat.

Double Dotted Crotchet or Quarter Notes

This is a crotchet with two dots on its right side, also known as double dotted quarter notes. Specifically, crotchet as a staff note has 1 beat, which is equal to 2 quavers.

If crotchet is a double-dotted note, its new value will be one crotchet, one quaver, and one semi-quaver. The first dot will add half the value of the note to the note. And the second dot will add half of the value of the first dot.

Since a crotchet’s worth is 1 beat, and half of 1 is ¹/₂, and half of ¹/₂ is ¹/₄ . And when we add 1 beat to ¹/₂, and ¹/₄ , it will be summed up to 1 and ³/₄ beats. That is 1 beat + ¹/₂ beats + ¹/₄ beat = 1 ³/₄.

In a nutshell, the value of a double dotted crotchet is 1 ³/₄ beats.

Notation Of Dotted Notes On The Stave

In terms of notation on the stave, if the dotted note is on a space, its rhythm dot also goes on the space.

But if it’s on a line, the dot goes on the space above. The same thing applies to notes on ledger lines. We should not be confused with the dots for staccato articulation with the dots on dotted notes.

Normally, staccato articulation is located above or below the note. And on the other hand, dots for the dotted notes are located to the right of the note.

Dotted notes give room to write so many rhythms. However, it is bar line restricted. It cannot extend notes across the bar lines.

Always remember that dotted notes stay in the bar. It cannot notate across the bar lines. Typically, to extend notes across the bar line, tie notation is used.

You can read the Interesting Guide About Tie And Tied-Notes In Music Notation to learn more about tied notes and tie notation.

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