What's the meaning of this

[drapopolus]

Could somebody explain how to play this. I can't figure out what it means when you have a quarter note followed by a half note in close proximity (back to back). Does it mean that I'd hold that note over? Why not just use the half note. Take a look at the example.

[pianoplayjl]

Just hold the note over.

[andreslr6]

Yes, I don't know if the term in English is correct, but in Spanish we call those "pedal notes", you hold the bass note for the duration that it's marked, generally it lasts during a small group of notes. The purpose of writing it down, I believe, is to make it clear that one should just hold the bass note instead of using a pedal?. Anyways, think of it as two voices, the bass (the half notes) and the quavers.

[ionian_tinnear]

Sometimes this is done to indicate a secondary melodic line.  i.e. Bring out the half notes more than the eighths. 

And as andreslr6 said, sometimes they just want the half note held with a finger, and not the pedal...

[drapopolus]

Thanks for the replies. I get it now. I have another issue though. Can someone help me with passing tones (See attached image).

(Counting in eighth notes) The first note is a half note tied to an eighth, so it gets counts 1-and-2-and-3, then the 3 eighth notes get the and-4-and. How does the passing tone fit into the count? It's an eighth note too. The only thing I can think is to play it just before the D. Why is it positioned like that? Can someone give me a bit of a rundown on passing tones.

[j_menz]

It's an Acciaccatura.  Play it (very quickly, not at all for it's full value) just before the D. The D should (probably) fall on it's natural beat.

Read up on them here (and use the links as well):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_note

[drapopolus]

It's an Acciaccatura.  Play it (very quickly, not at all for it's full value) just before the D. The D should (probably) fall on it's natural beat.

Read up on them here (and use the links as well):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_note

Thank you very much.