What is Crotchet?
[[File:Quarter notes and rest.svg|thumb|right|300px|A quarter note with stem facing up, a quarter note with stem facing down, and a quarter rest.]] A '''crotchet''' or '''quarter note''' is a [[note (music)|note]] played for one fourth of a [[whole note]] (or ''semibreve''). Quarter notes are written as a filled-in oval (or round) note head and a straight, flagless stem (the line). The stem usually points up (like a [[d]]) if it is below the middle line of the [[staff (music)|stave]] or down (like a [[p]]) if it is on or above the middle line. When beginners start to learn to play an instrument they are often taught that one crotchet lasts for one beat (one count). That is because they are learning pieces with simple [[time signature]]s. It is, however, important to remember that other note lengths (minims, dotted crotchets etc.) can also be treated as one beat, depending on the time signature. {{music-stub}} [[Category:Note values]]