32ndnote

The 32nd note, also known as a thirty-second note, is a musical note representing a duration equal to one thirty-second of a whole note. In common time signatures, such as 4/4, it is equivalent to one-eighth of a beat, or half of a sixteenth note. Visually, a 32nd note is characterized by a filled-in note head, a stem, and two flags extending from the stem. When multiple 32nd notes appear consecutively, their flags are often joined together by a beam, which can also be doubled to create a connected string of thirty-second notes. This rhythmic value is relatively short and is often used in faster musical passages to add complexity and detail. Composers utilize 32nd notes to create rapid melodic lines, intricate rhythmic figures, and to add a sense of urgency or excitement to a piece. The precise duration of a 32nd note is dependent on the tempo of the music; a faster tempo will make each 32nd note sound shorter, while a slower tempo will lengthen its perceived duration. Its inverse, the 32nd rest, represents the same duration of silence.