The course › Unit 3: C position
Lesson 15 of 72 · Four beats per measure: Au clair de la lune
A whole note lasts four beats: “ta-a-a-a”. It’s a hollow note head with no stem.
Beats are grouped into measures (or bars), separated by bar lines. In 4/4 time, each measure holds four quarter-note beats: 1, 2, 3, 4. The first beat is the strongest.
Every measure lasts four beats, whatever notes fill it.
Tip: Count out loud, “1, 2, 3, 4”, as you play. On a whole note, keep counting while the note rings.
Tap the rhythms. Hold the key down on the whole notes and half notes.
A whole note, two half notes, four quarter notes: count the beats as you play. One whole note (4 beats), two half notes (2 beats each), four quarter notes (1 beat each).
This 18th-century French song fits on three notes of C position: C, D, E. Each phrase ends on a long note: a half note, then a whole note.
Spot the long notes: the half note (E) and the final whole note (C).
The whole song, twice, counting the beats carefully. Quarter, half and whole notes in a single melody. It’s played twice.
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