What is an Eighth Note?

An eighth note is a musical note that represents half of a beat in common time signatures such as 4/4 time. Two eighth notes together equal the duration of one quarter note. Because they divide the beat into smaller rhythmic units, eighth notes allow musicians to create faster and more detailed rhythmic patterns.

In written music notation, an eighth note is shown as a filled-in oval note head with a stem and a single flag. When multiple eighth notes appear in sequence, their flags are often connected with a horizontal beam to make the rhythm easier to read. This beaming helps musicians quickly recognize groups of notes within a measure.

Eighth notes are widely used across many styles of music to add motion and energy to rhythms. They commonly appear in melodies, drum patterns, bass lines, and accompaniment parts. By dividing beats into smaller units, eighth notes help composers and performers create more complex and expressive rhythmic structures.