How many beats does a whole note have?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking about the duration of a whole note in music, specifically how many beats it represents. In standard music notation, a whole note typically lasts for four beats in common time (4/4).

More Information

In common time (4/4), a whole note occupies the entire measure, making it equal to 4 beats.

Tips

A common mistake is thinking that the number of beats a whole note receives can change with different time signatures, but in standard 4/4 time, it is always 4 beats.

Sources

• Music Theory for Musicians - musictheory.net