7/27/22, 4:18 PM Dots and Ties

Dots and Ties

printed from www.musictheory.net

Augmentation dots and tenuto ties are two types of markings used to alter a note's duration.

A dot increases duration by one half.

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/14 1/3
7/27/22, 4:18 PM Dots and Ties

Since an eighth note is half the duration of a quarter note, we will substitute it for the 1/2 symbol.

As you can see, a dotted quarter note is equal to a quarter note plus an eighth note.

A dotted quarter note can also equal three eighth notes.

Ties merge multiple notes of the same pitch.

They are used to let the duration of a note travel across barriers (such as the measure line in this example).

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/14 2/3
7/27/22, 4:18 PM Dots and Ties

The fourth and fifth notes are now combined.

If the measure line were not there, we could have written a half note instead.

Use this chart for reference to augmentation dots.

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https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/14 3/3