Let's see one more. A Dot after a whole note.

The whole note last 4 counts, the dot always adds half of the value of the note, so half of four is 2 (or a half note) so 4 + 2 = 6. A dotted whole note last 6 counts. Now let's listen to these examples.

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You play the first note Do and don't play the second note Do because of the tie. So the first Do last 3 counts, the same thing in measure 2 with Mi.

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This piece of music looks different then the Tie Notes, but it sound the same, because a dotted half note also last 3 counts.

Another way of making a note last longer is with a Tie. A tie makes the first note as long as all the next tied notes. Let's see a piece of music for piano and violin. Notice that each instrument play each note. Play the music.

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Now lets see the same music but using ties. Let's tie the whole note in the second measure to the next whole note in the third measure, and also tie the second whole note to the first quarter note Mi in measure number four. So it looks like this.

Notice that now the instruments play the first Mi whole note in the second measure, but the don't play the next whole note and also don't play the first quarter note in measure four, the DON'T PLAY IT but they keep the sound to make it last longer, for as long as the tie joins the notes.

Listen to the music and you'll here

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You'll still need to play a few songs with ties and with dotted notes to really understand this part of the theory. Keep practicing and keep making music.