Lesson 4.2 - Breves and Double Dotting

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Breves

The prefix "semi" on a word means half. Therefore a semibreve is half of a breve and the latter is worth 8 crotchets.
This is what a breve and its equivalent rest look like: 

Up until now you learned that a whole bar of rest was always indicated by a semibreve rest. However for a whole bar of rest in 4/2 time you would need to put a breve rest as shown here.

Double Dotting

Dotted notes are worth half as much again as the original note
Double dotting is where there is another "half of the half" added on.
For example:

Minim = 2 crotchets

Dotted minim = 2 plus half of 2 = 3 crotchets

Double dotted minim = 2 plus half of 2,  plus half of half of 2 = 3 and a half crotchets and this is what it looks like.

Similarly a double dotted crotchet is worth one and three quarter crotchets and a double dotted quaver is worth seven eighths of a crotchet.

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