Dotted Eighth Notes — How to Count, Play & Practice
A dotted eighth note lasts three-quarters of a beat — the original eighth note (half a beat) plus a sixteenth note (quarter of a beat). When paired with a sixteenth note, it creates a snappy long-short pattern that adds drive and forward momentum to a rhythm. This pairing is extremely common in marches, overtures, and pop music.
How to Count
Count '1-e-and-a' per beat. The dotted eighth note occupies '1-e-and' (three sixteenth-note durations), and the following sixteenth note lands on 'a.' So the pattern sounds like a long note followed by a quick pickup into the next beat. Practice by tapping steady sixteenth notes and only articulating on '1' and 'a.'
Common Mistakes
- Making the dotted-eighth-sixteenth pattern sound like straight eighth notes by not holding the dotted eighth long enough.
- Over-dotting the rhythm so it sounds like a double-dotted eighth note followed by a thirty-second note.
- Rushing the sixteenth note that follows the dotted eighth, squeezing it too close to the next downbeat.
Practice Exercise
Set a metronome to 60 BPM with sixteenth-note subdivisions. Clap the dotted-eighth + sixteenth pattern on each beat: clap on '1,' hold through 'e' and 'and,' then clap the sixteenth note on 'a.' Repeat for four measures, then try the same pattern at 80 BPM.
Suggested metronome tempos: Slow: 50 BPM · Medium: 76 BPM · Fast: 120 BPM
Related Time Signatures
Related Rhythm Patterns
Common Genres
FAQ
How long is a dotted eighth note?
A dotted eighth note lasts three-quarters of a beat in 4/4 time, or equivalently three sixteenth notes in duration. It is the eighth note's half beat plus a sixteenth note's quarter beat.
Where do you hear dotted eighth note rhythms?
The dotted-eighth-sixteenth pattern is the hallmark of marches (think Sousa), French overtures, and many pop songs. It creates a crisp, driving long-short feel that propels the music forward.
Related References
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