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A hollow oval with no stem, the longest note value in ordinary use.
Also known as: Semibreve, Empty oval note
A hollow oval with no stem is a whole note — four beats in common time. Every other note value is defined by halving it, which is why the naming is arithmetic rather than arbitrary.
Indicates a note lasting four beats in common time, the reference value the rest of the system divides down from.
Contexts: Music
Is written as a hollow oval with no stem at all, which is what distinguishes it from the half note.
Contexts: Music
Is called a semibreve in British usage and a whole note in American usage, one of several places where the two naming systems disagree completely.
Contexts: Music
A hollow oval lying slightly on its side, with a thicker outline at the upper right and lower left and no stem or flag attached.
Successive halvings of one reference duration.