#### 3.1.7 Durations

In Note, Chord, and Lyrics mode, durations are designated by numbers and dots: durations are entered as their reciprocal values. For example, a quarter note is entered using a `4` (since it is a 1/4 note), while a half note is entered using a `2` (since it is a 1/2 note). For notes longer than a whole you must use variables

         c'\breve
         c'1 c'2 c'4 c'8 c'16 c'32 c'64 c'64
         r\longa r\breve
         r1 r2 r4 r8 r16 r32 r64 r64

If the duration is omitted then it is set to the previously entered duration. The default for the first note is a quarter note. The duration can be followed by dots (``.`') in order to obtain dotted note lengths

>          a' b' c''8 b' a'4 a'4. b'4.. c'8.

You can alter the length of duration by a fraction N/M appending ``*`N/M' (or ``*`N' if M=1). This will not affect the appearance of the notes or rests produced.

In the following example, the first three notes take up exactly two beats, but no triplet bracket is printed.

>          \time 2/4
>          a4*2/3 gis4*2/3 a4*2/3
>          a4

##### Predefined commands

Dots are normally moved up to avoid staff lines, except in polyphonic situations. The following commands may be used to force a particular direction manually

`\dotsUp`, `\dotsDown`, `\dotsBoth`.

##### See also

This manual: Tuplets

Program reference: Dots, and DotColumn.

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