🎵 What Are Musical Notes?

Introduction

Music is a magical language that we can hear. The tiny symbols that tell musicians which sounds to play are called Musical Notes. Let’s discover how they work!

1. the Shapes of Notes

• A Whole Note looks like an open circle. It lasts a long time.
• A Half Note has a circle with a stick (a stem). It lasts half as long as a whole note.
• A Quarter Note has a filled‑in circle with a stem. It’s shorter still.

These shapes are like picture clues that tell us how long to hold a sound.

2. How Notes Make Songs

When we put notes together, they become a Melody—the tune you hum or sing.

• High notes sound “tall” like a kite in the sky.
• Low notes sound “short” like a bug crawling on the ground.

Just like LEGO bricks, you can stack notes in many ways to build different songs.

3. Reading Notes on a Staff

The five lines and four spaces where notes sit are called a Staff.

• Notes on the bottom line are low.
• Notes on the top line are high.

Think of the staff as a ladder. Each step up makes the sound higher!

4. Play and Pretend 🎹

• Clap your hands for a quarter note.
• Tap your foot for a half note.
• Hold a note and sway like a tree for a whole note.

Using your body helps you feel the length of each note.

Did You Know?

The word “note” comes from the Latin nota, meaning “a mark or sign.” Long ago, musicians wrote notes on paper with a quill feather!

Conclusion

Now you know the secret symbols that turn silence into songs. Grab a drum, a piano, or even your voice, and try making your own note patterns. Keep listening, keep playing, and let your imagination sing!