Half note (minim)
A half note sounds for half a whole note, or two quarter notes. It has an open notehead and a stem; its beat count depends on the time signature.
- Notes and rests
- On the staff itself
- An oval or notehead, A straight line
Do not confuse it with
A whole note has the same open head but no stem; a quarter note has a stem and a filled head.
What the sources say
- SMuFL — Individual notes
noteHalfUp — Half note (minim) stem up
- Note Duration
The half note has half the duration of a whole note.
- Steps to Music Theory — The Basics I: Notes and Rests
Half note: An unfilled notehead with a stem.