Quavers and semiquavers

The quaver

A quaver is shorter than a crotchet. It lasts half a beat, so two quavers fill one beat. It looks like a crotchet with one tail (or one beam). A beam is a thick line joining quavers that sit together.

The semiquaver

A semiquaver is shorter still. It lasts a quarter of a beat, so four fill one beat. It looks like a crotchet with two tails (or two beams).

Each one is half the one before

From the longest: semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver. Every note value is half the one before it. So one minim lasts as long as two crotchets. One crotchet lasts as long as two quavers, or four semiquavers. One quaver lasts as long as two semiquavers.

Remember

• Quaver: one tail, half a beat.
• Semiquaver: two tails, a quarter of a beat.
• Each value lasts half as long as the one before.