Definition

Noun: A musical note is a written symbol in music that represents two main things: the pitch (how high or low the sound is) and the duration (how long the sound lasts). It is the basic unit of musical notation.

Usage

A musical note is used to communicate specific musical sounds on a written staff. The pitch is shown by the note's vertical position on the staff, and the duration is shown by the note's shape (e.g., filled-in or open notehead, presence of a stem or flags).

Examples

• The first musical note in the song is a middle C.
• You need to hold that musical note for four beats.
• The composer wrote a series of quick musical notes for the violin part.
• Can you identify this musical note? Is it an A or a G?

Advanced Usage

• "to hit a note": To sing or play a pitch accurately.
  • The singer hit every high musical note perfectly.
• Conceptual Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe a single, distinct element within a broader context.
  • His speech struck a hopeful musical note in an otherwise grim discussion.

Variants and Related Words

• Note (n): A common, shorter form of "musical note" used in most musical contexts.
  • Play the notes on the page.
• Tone (n): Can refer to the specific pitch or sound quality of a note.
• Pitch (n): Specifically refers to the highness or lowness of a note.

Synonyms

• Tone
• Pitch (when referring specifically to the frequency aspect)

Related Phrases

• Whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note: These are specific types of musical notes named for their duration.
• Grace note: A very short musical note that is played quickly before a main note.
• Blue note: A musical note sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes, especially in jazz or blues.

Noun

1. a notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound
   • the singer held the note too long