| A "minim" is a musical note that is widely used in | | | | note. Using simple fractions you can work out |
| piano sheet music. In fact, it's used in all sheet | | | | what different types of notes are called. We have |
| music for all musical instruments. | | | | already explained half notes, next would be |
| The minim has a hollow non-coloured oval shape | | | | quarter notes then eight notes and so on. |
| with a stem on the right or left side depending on | | | | Also related to the minim is the minim rest or half |
| where on the staff it is written. When the minim | | | | rest. This is a musical silence worth two beats. A |
| is written higher up the staff or above the middle | | | | half rest is written as a small black rectangular |
| line, the stem will be written on the left side of | | | | box, which sits on the middle line of the staff. |
| the oval and pointing downwards. If it is below the | | | | Another relation to the minim is the dotted minim |
| middle line then the stem is written on the right | | | | or dotted half note, which is worth three beats. |
| side and pointing upwards. There are no hard and | | | | It's useful to know that a dot written on the right |
| fast rules regarding this and ultimately whether to | | | | side of any musical note, increases that's notes |
| write the stem on left or right will be more for | | | | value by half as much again. So in the minims |
| neatness and also to leave room for chord | | | | case, half of two equals one, add the one to the |
| symbols and lyrics. | | | | minims value of two, two plus one equals three. |
| The minim is also referred to as a half note yet | | | | Even though notes such as the minim, which we |
| its musical time value is two beats. This is | | | | now know, can be referred to as a half note, it is |
| because the minim or half note should be | | | | useful to know the actual name of the note. The |
| referenced to the semibreve, which is worth four | | | | smallest note value in modern music is a sixty |
| beats. Half of four equals two; the minim is worth | | | | fourth note called a "hemidemsemiquaver" and the |
| two beats and is also half the value of a | | | | highest note value is called a "breve" which is |
| semibreve, hence the name half note. | | | | worth eight beats and is not used anymore. |
| An important reference note to all others, is the | | | | Which is just as well or it would confuse things |
| semibreve. A semibreve is also known as a whole | | | | even more. |