Thirty-second note
In music notation, the thirty-second note is a symbol representing a duration equal to one thirty-second of a whole note, or semibreve, making it a very brief rhythmic unit often used for rapid passages.[1][2] Known as the demisemiquaver in British English terminology, it plays a key role in subdividing beats to create complex rhythms and precise timing in compositions across various genres.[1][2] The thirty-second note is visually depicted as a filled black notehead attached to a vertical stem, with three flags extending from the stem's end when written singly, or three beams connecting multiple such notes for grouping and readability.[1][2] This notation allows performers to interpret short durations accurately, with its length determined by the piece's tempo; for instance, at 120 beats per minute where a quarter note lasts 0.5 seconds, a thirty-second note would endure approximately 0.0625 seconds.[2] In practice, eight thirty-second notes typically fill the space of one quarter note, facilitating intricate subdivisions in simple or compound meters.[2] Relative to other note values, the thirty-second note is half the duration of a sixteenth note (semiquaver) and twice that of a sixty-fourth note (hemidemisemiquaver), forming part of a hierarchical "rhythm tree" that builds from the whole note through successive binary divisions.[1][2] It is commonly employed in fast-paced music such as classical violin etudes, jazz improvisations, or modern electronic compositions to add density and speed, often beamed in groups to maintain visual clarity on the staff.[1] Corresponding rests of the same duration ensure silences match these short notes, supporting balanced phrasing and articulation.[3]Definition and Duration
Definition
In music notation, the thirty-second note is a symbol that represents a duration equal to one thirty-second of a whole note (or semibreve).[4] This makes it a fundamental unit for expressing fine rhythmic subdivisions in musical compositions.[5] The whole note serves as the primary reference for note values in common time signatures, such as 4/4, where it occupies a full measure equivalent to four beats.[5] In this context, the thirty-second note thus equates to one thirty-second of that measure, enabling precise articulation of rapid passages.[5] Relative to other note values, the thirty-second note has half the duration of a sixteenth note and twice the duration of a sixty-fourth note, facilitating hierarchical rhythmic structures.[5] In British English terminology, it is referred to as a demisemiquaver, reflecting historical naming conventions in music theory.[6]Relative Value
In Western music notation, the thirty-second note occupies a specific position in the binary subdivision system, where each successive note value halves the duration of the previous one relative to the whole note as the baseline. This hierarchy establishes the thirty-second note as equivalent to 1/32 of a whole note, following the sequence: whole note (1), half note (1/2), quarter note (1/4), eighth note (1/8), sixteenth note (1/16), thirty-second note (1/32), and sixty-fourth note (1/64).[7][8][1] The following table illustrates these common note values and their fractional durations relative to the whole note:| Note Value | Fraction of Whole Note | Number of Notes per Whole Note |
|---|---|---|
| Whole note | 1 | 1 |
| Half note | 1/2 | 2 |
| Quarter note | 1/4 | 4 |
| Eighth note | 1/8 | 8 |
| Sixteenth note | 1/16 | 16 |
| Thirty-second note | 1/32 | 32 |
| Sixty-fourth note | 1/64 | 64 |