thirty-second note: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Musical
Quick answer
What does “thirty-second note” mean?
A musical note with a time value equal to 1/32 of a whole note, or half the duration of a sixteenth note.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical note with a time value equal to 1/32 of a whole note, or half the duration of a sixteenth note.
In musical notation, a note represented by a filled-in oval with three flags on its stem, indicating it should be played for a very short duration. It's a term for duration, not pitch.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the equivalent term is 'demisemiquaver'.
Connotations
No difference in connotation; both are purely technical terms. 'Thirty-second note' (American) is a direct, descriptive term based on fractions. 'Demisemiquaver' (British) is a traditional term derived from a different naming system (semibreve, minim, etc.).
Frequency
In American music publications, education, and conversation, 'thirty-second note' is universal. In the UK and Commonwealth countries, 'demisemiquaver' is standard, though 'thirty-second note' is understood due to global influence.
Grammar
How to Use “thirty-second note” in a Sentence
[verb] + thirty-second note(s): play, count, write, beam, subdivide intoVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thirty-second note” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The passage requires you to demisemiquaver precisely.
- He demisemiquavered the run with great clarity.
American English
- You need to thirty-second note that passage cleanly.
- She thirty-second noted the arpeggio perfectly.
adverb
British English
- The ornaments were played demisemiquaver fast.
- He subdivides demisemiquaver.
American English
- Play these grace notes thirty-second note quick.
- Subdivide thirty-second note for accuracy.
adjective
British English
- A demisemiquaver passage demands excellent finger control.
- The demisemiquaver rhythm was tricky to master.
American English
- A thirty-second note run is a test of technique.
- The thirty-second note figure is written in the trumpet part.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in music theory, musicology, and music education texts when discussing rhythm, notation, or musical analysis.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of musical contexts.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in sheet music, by composers, arrangers, conductors, and performers (instrumentalists/vocalists) to specify rhythmic duration.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thirty-second note”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thirty-second note”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thirty-second note”
- Confusing it with a 'sixteenth note' (twice as long).
- Adding an extra 's' to 'thirty' ('thirties-second note').
- Using it to describe a high-pitched note (it's about duration, not pitch).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Thirty-two. A whole note can be subdivided into 32 equal thirty-second notes.
It is a filled-in oval notehead with a stem. The stem has three flags (or beams connecting it to other notes).
Yes. It indicates duration for any instrument or voice that produces pitched or rhythmic notes, from piano and violin to drums (where it denotes a very fast succession of strokes).
The systems evolved differently. American English adopted a logical fractional system (whole, half, quarter, etc.). British English retained the older traditional system of Latin/Italian-derived names (semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, etc.).
A musical note with a time value equal to 1/32 of a whole note, or half the duration of a sixteenth note.
Thirty-second note is usually technical/musical in register.
Thirty-second note: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːti ˈsekənd nəʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːrti ˈsekənd noʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is purely technical.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a whole note as a whole pizza. Cut it into 32 equal slices. One of those tiny slices is a 'thirty-second note'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE (on the musical staff) / MUSICAL DURATION IS A FRACTION OF A WHOLE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the British English term for 'thirty-second note'?