KeyofAaron

If a quarter note takes up a quarter of a measure in common time giving you one beat (1/4 of four beats is one beat), half notes take up half of a measure in common time giving you two beats (1/2 of four beats is two beats), whole notes end up taking up a full four beats (since a whole measure in common time consists of four beats). When playing a whole note, you would hit your note or chord on beat one and hold it or ring it out for the full measure (four beats).

 

Whole notes will only appear on beat one of any given measure because the value needs to take up the full measure, no more and no less. Try these exercises below holding out different chords for whole notes (four beats).

​

1. C G C G

​

2. C Am C Am

​

3. C Em C Em

​

4. G D G D

​

5. Em Am Em Am

​

6. E A E A

​

7. G Em G Em

​

8. G Am G Am

​

9. E D E D

​

10. Am Dm Am Dm