Which note value represents two beats?

Which note value represents two beats?

• A. Whole note.
• B. Half note.
• C. Quarter note.
• D. Eighth note.

Answer: (B)

Two beats are represented by the half note. In common time (4/4), note lengths correspond to counts per measure: a whole note lasts four beats, a half note lasts two beats, a quarter note lasts one beat, and an eighth note lasts half a beat. So the symbol that equals two counts is the half note. The whole note would fill four counts, the quarter note only one, and the eighth note only half a count, which is why they don’t represent two beats.

Two beats are represented by the half note. In common time (4/4), note lengths correspond to counts per measure: a whole note lasts four beats, a half note lasts two beats, a quarter note lasts one beat, and an eighth note lasts half a beat. So the symbol that equals two counts is the half note. The whole note would fill four counts, the quarter note only one, and the eighth note only half a count, which is why they don’t represent two beats.