What is a minim in music terms?

A minim, also known as a half note in American English, is a musical note that represents a duration of two beats or pulses. It is the traditional name used in many parts of the world, while in the United States, the term "half note" is more commonly used.

The minim is most often notated as a note head with a vertical stem and a single flag attached. The note head in staff notation consists of a hollow (unfilled) oval representing the note. There is a dot next to the note head on the right side, which indicates that it is a half note.

In a musical composition, minims or half notes represent two divisions of a whole note, which is the longest standard note duration. As such, two minims, or half notes, equal a whole note in duration, and conversely, one whole note is equivalent to two minims or half notes. Similarly, a minim or half note is twice the duration of a crotchet or quarter note.

Minims or half notes are widely used in musical compositions of various styles, including classical music, contemporary, jazz, and other genres. They play an integral part in creating rhythmic patterns, melodic lines, and harmonic progressions within musical pieces.