whole note
C2/TechnicalTechnical (Music)
Definition
Meaning
A musical note with a duration equal to four quarter notes or half of a breve, typically the longest single note in common modern musical notation.
In Western music notation, a note that occupies an entire measure in common time (4/4). It is used to represent a sustained pitch of a specific length.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is specific to music theory and notation. It is defined relationally to other note values (e.g., half note, quarter note).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'whole note' is used in American English. In British English, the equivalent term is 'semibreve'. Both refer to the same note value.
Connotations
The term is purely technical. The British term 'semibreve' derives from Latin 'semi-' (half) and 'brevis' (short), historically meaning it was half the value of a 'breve'. The American term 'whole note' is more descriptive of its function in common time.
Frequency
'Whole note' is exclusively used in American contexts and globally where American music terminology is taught. 'Semibreve' is standard in British, Commonwealth, and many European contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The melody opens with a whole note.Hold that chord for a whole note.A whole note is worth four beats in 4/4 time.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in musicology, music theory, and composition texts.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of musical contexts or learning an instrument.
Technical
Core term in musical notation, performance instructions, and sheet music.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The semibreve rest is placed differently.
- A semibreve duration is required.
American English
- The whole note rest hangs from the line.
- It has a whole note value.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The first sound in the song is a long, whole note.
- In 4/4 time, a whole note gets four full beats.
- The composer used a tied whole note to extend the phrase across the bar line.
- The harmonic stasis was emphasised by a pedal tone consisting of successive whole notes in the bass register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as the WHOLE measure in common time—it takes up the whole space (four beats).
Conceptual Metaphor
NOTES ARE OBJECTS WITH DURATIONAL SIZE (a whole note is a 'whole' or full object compared to fractions like 'half' or 'quarter').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'целая нота' unless in a clear American music context. The more internationally common term for Russian speakers is 'целая нота' (akin to American) but be aware of the British-derived 'половинная нота' (which actually means 'half note'), causing confusion. Confirm the system in use (American vs. British note names).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'whole note' with 'whole tone' (which is an interval).
- Using 'whole note' to describe a note that is simply held for a long time, rather than its specific notational value.
- Misspelling as 'whole-not'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the British English equivalent of an American 'whole note'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its duration is relative to the time signature. In 4/4 time, it equals 4 beats. In 2/2 (cut time), it equals 2 beats. In 3/4 time, a whole note would typically not fit in a single bar.
In standard notation, a whole note is an open (hollow) oval note head without a stem.
It is a symbol denoting silence for the duration of a whole note. In common notation, it appears as a solid rectangle hanging from the fourth line of the staff.
American music terminology simplified the traditional British/Latin system (semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver) to a fractional system based on the 'whole note' as the reference point (whole, half, quarter, eighth).