The dotted semibreve and dotted rests

The dotted semibreve

The dotted semibreve is new at Grade 2. A semibreve is 4, half of 4 is 2, so a dotted semibreve is 6. It fills a bar of three minim beats on its own.

Dotted rests

Rests can be dotted too, and the dot works the same way. A dotted crotchet rest lasts 1 and a half beats. A dotted quaver rest lasts three quarters of a beat.

Adding them up

To add up a group of notes, count in crotchets and add the numbers. A dotted minim and two quavers make 3 + 1 = 4.

Remember

• Dotted semibreve: 6 crotchet beats.
• Dotted rests work like dotted notes: half as long again.
• Add a group by counting in crotchets.