Day 5 - Dots and Ties

Augmentation dots and tenuto ties: markings used to alter a notes duration.

Dots increase duration by ½. A dotted quarter note, for example, is equal to a quarter note and an eighth note, or alternately three eighth notes

Ties merge notes of the same duration, allowing them to cross barriers such as measure lines. In the example given, there are two groups of quarter notes in 4/4 time, separated by a bar. If you use a tie to combine the 4th and 5th notes, then that would combine those two notes into one. If the measure line was not there, a half note could be placed there and turn the time signature from 4/4 to 8/4.