A quarter note is a basic musical symbol that represents a specific duration of sound in music. It looks like a filled-in oval with a straight stem. In most time signatures, a quarter note gets one beat, making it a fundamental building block for rhythm. Musicians use quarter notes to create a steady pulse in their compositions, helping to keep the music flowing smoothly. In a typical measure of music, you can fit four quarter notes if the time signature is 4/4. This means that each quarter note contributes equally to the overall rhythm, allowing for a balanced and harmonious sound. Understanding quarter notes is essential for anyone learning to play an instrument or read music.