noun
crotchet
KRAH-chit/ˈkrɑːtʃɪt/
A musical note lasting one quarter of a whole note.
The crotchet on the staff has a solid head and no flag.
Etymology
The pieces mean “small hook.” This name was applied to the quarter note because of the shape of the notes in musical notation.
In context
a crotchet rest will take up one beat just like its counterpart the crotchet so remember a crotchet was always drawn with a colored in head with a stem on it
More examples
- In 4/4 time, each crotchet lasts one beat.
- Two eighth notes last as long as one crotchet.
- The melody begins with four crotchets followed by a half note.
Forms
crotchet · crotchets
Similar words
- quarter note
- The standard American term for exactly the same note.