What is the correct note value of a dotted eighth note duplet (two eighths in the space of three eighths)?
There is considerable controversy over the correct way to notate this duplet. The technically correct way is according to the same rule as other tuplets, which says that a note can only be shortened, never lengthened. This implies that, for instance, 3 notes in a quarter are eighths, but 5 in a quarter are 16ths. This rule implies that 2 notes in a dotted quarter are quarters. This system is consistent, sensible, and is recommended by Stone, Roemer, and Rosenthal. However, common practice is to notate 2 in 3/8 as eighth notes. One possible explanation is that the player’s eye is used to seeing a quarter divided into eighths, regardless of whether it has a dot. (Sewell) This method is recommended by Read and Ross. The most serious problem with this is that a given note value (say, a dotted half) can be divided into 2 quarters or 4 quarters. This seems to me to be wrong by definition, not to mention confusing.
