Every note has a rounded notehead which designates the pitch. Other differences, such as whether a note has a stem or is solid black, have to do with note value, which is length of time to hold a note.

 

 

 

 

The symbol for a whole note is a circle.  A whole note is held for 4 beats.  

 

 

 

 

The symbol for a half note is a circle with a stem.

Two half notes = one whole note

 

 

 

 

 

A quarter note is a solid black circle with a stem.

Four quarter notes = 1 whole note

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

An eighth note is a solid black circle with a stem and one flag.  Two eighth notes are written with their flags as a single bar between them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sixteenth note is a solid black circle with a stem and two flags.  Two sixteenth notes are written with their flags as a double bar between them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A triplet divides one beat into 3 equal parts.

 

​

​

If a note has a dot on the side, another half of the value of the note is added to it. For example, a half note with a dot beside it represents 2 beats plus half of 2 beats which is 1 beat.  So... 2+1=3.