Quarter Note
also called “crotchet”also called “1/4 note”
The short version
One note per beat — the plain 1, 2, 3, 4.
In 4/4 there are four quarter notes in a bar. It's the default "one hit per count" length.
Why you'd careIt's the reference length. Everything else is described as faster or slower than this.
88 words and counting in The Music Guide. Back to the guide