The dot and the tie · Rhythm and meter · Music theory
A dot, to the right of the note, adds half its value: a dotted quarter lasts a quarter and an eighth; a dotted half, three quarters.
The dot and the tie
A dot, to the right of the note, adds half its value: a dotted quarter lasts a quarter and an eighth; a dotted half, three quarters.
A tie joins two equal notes in a row: they sound as one, with their durations added. Among other things, it lets a note cross the bar line. It should not be confused with a slur, which joins different notes to be played legato.
Double dots and ties
A second dot adds half of the first: a double-dotted quarter is a quarter, an eighth and a sixteenth. It is uncommon, but appears in Baroque and Classical music, and it is worth adding up calmly.
A tie joins two notes of the same pitch and only the first is struck. It is used above all to cross the bar line, where a dot cannot be written, and to show the beats of the measure. It must not be confused with the slur, which joins different notes.