Sixteenth note

What it means

The sixteenth note lasts a sixteenth of a whole note, that is, half an eighth and a quarter of a quarter note. In four-four time, sixteen sixteenths go into one bar, four onto each beat. Like all note values it designates a ratio, not an absolute duration.

In the series of note values it stands between the eighth and the thirty-second. It is the smallest value that occurs regularly in the music of every period; smaller values remain reserved for particular contexts.

In the notation

The sixteenth note has a filled notehead, a stem, and two flags. When several stand next to one another, they are connected with two beams. The value can be read off at a glance from the number of beams: one beam eighth, two beams sixteenth, three beams thirty-second.

The beaming follows the time signature and groups together what belongs to one beat — in four-four time, accordingly, four sixteenths each. Mixed groups of eighths and sixteenths are written with one continuous and one shortened beam; the short beam shows which note is the smaller value.

Musical use

Sixteenths carry the running movement in fast movements, in runs, accompanying figures, and ornaments. In slow movements they fill the space between the beats and give the melody its delicacy; there they often appear in uneven groups with dotted values. In étude and practice literature they form the backbone of many figures, because they demand even finger movement.

It has two flags or two beams. Four sixteenths fill one quarter. In 4/4 time, sixteen fit into one bar.

Performance practice

With sixteenth-note movement, count along in groups of four, for instance “one-e-and-a,” so that the subdivision stays even. Take care that all four notes of a group have the same length; usually the first becomes too long and the rest are rushed. Practise runs first in groups with a stop at the beginning of each group. And read the beams precisely: a group of sixteenths next to a group of eighths is easily confused at a quick glance.