How many beats does a half note receive?

How many beats does a half note receive?

• A. 1 beat.
• B. 2 beats.
• C. 4 beats.
• D. 0.5 beat.

Answer: (B)

A half note equals two beats in the standard counting used for common time. In 4/4 time, the beat is a quarter note, so a half note spans two of those beats. Put differently, a quarter note = 1 beat, a half note = 2 beats, and a whole note = 4 beats. (An eighth note, by contrast, lasts 0.5 beat.) If the beat unit changes in a different time signature, the half note still covers two quarter-note lengths, though the number of beats counted may vary with the beat unit used.

A half note equals two beats in the standard counting used for common time. In 4/4 time, the beat is a quarter note, so a half note spans two of those beats. Put differently, a quarter note = 1 beat, a half note = 2 beats, and a whole note = 4 beats. (An eighth note, by contrast, lasts 0.5 beat.) If the beat unit changes in a different time signature, the half note still covers two quarter-note lengths, though the number of beats counted may vary with the beat unit used.