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Beam (music)
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Beam (music)
In musical notation, a beam is a horizontal or diagonal line used to connect multiple consecutive notes (and occasionally rests) to indicate rhythmic grouping. Only eighth notes (quavers) or shorter can be beamed. The number of beams is equal to the number of flags that would be present on an unbeamed note. Beaming refers to the conventions and use of beams. A primary beam connects a note group unbroken, while a secondary beam is interrupted or partially broken.
Beam spans indicate rhythmic groupings, usually determined by the time signature. Therefore, beams do not usually cross bar lines or major subdivisions of bars. A single eighth note, or any faster note, is always stemmed with flags, while two or more are typically beamed in groups.
In modern practice, beams may span across rests in order to make rhythmic groups clearer.
Beyond basic note grouping, beams are often used to indicate internal rhythmic subdivisions. This is achieved by using primary and secondary beams.
For example, in a run of eight 16th notes, the entire sequence is unified by a continuous primary beam—the outermost line—which signifies the overarching beat or pulse. To clarify the internal structure, however, the secondary beams are interrupted between the fourth and fifth notes. By breaking these inner beams while maintaining the continuity of the primary beam, two distinct sub-groups of four notes are created.
This technique improves legibility and communicates the desired phrasing to the performer, without altering the underlying rhythmic value of the passage.
In vocal music, beams were traditionally used only to connect notes sung to the same syllable. In modern practice it is more common to use standard beaming rules, while indicating multi-note syllables with slurs.
Notes joined by a beam usually have all the stems pointing in the same direction (up or down). The average pitch of the notes is used to determine the direction – if the average pitch is below the middle staff-line, the stems and beams usually go above the notehead, otherwise they go below.
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Beam (music)
In musical notation, a beam is a horizontal or diagonal line used to connect multiple consecutive notes (and occasionally rests) to indicate rhythmic grouping. Only eighth notes (quavers) or shorter can be beamed. The number of beams is equal to the number of flags that would be present on an unbeamed note. Beaming refers to the conventions and use of beams. A primary beam connects a note group unbroken, while a secondary beam is interrupted or partially broken.
Beam spans indicate rhythmic groupings, usually determined by the time signature. Therefore, beams do not usually cross bar lines or major subdivisions of bars. A single eighth note, or any faster note, is always stemmed with flags, while two or more are typically beamed in groups.
In modern practice, beams may span across rests in order to make rhythmic groups clearer.
Beyond basic note grouping, beams are often used to indicate internal rhythmic subdivisions. This is achieved by using primary and secondary beams.
For example, in a run of eight 16th notes, the entire sequence is unified by a continuous primary beam—the outermost line—which signifies the overarching beat or pulse. To clarify the internal structure, however, the secondary beams are interrupted between the fourth and fifth notes. By breaking these inner beams while maintaining the continuity of the primary beam, two distinct sub-groups of four notes are created.
This technique improves legibility and communicates the desired phrasing to the performer, without altering the underlying rhythmic value of the passage.
In vocal music, beams were traditionally used only to connect notes sung to the same syllable. In modern practice it is more common to use standard beaming rules, while indicating multi-note syllables with slurs.
Notes joined by a beam usually have all the stems pointing in the same direction (up or down). The average pitch of the notes is used to determine the direction – if the average pitch is below the middle staff-line, the stems and beams usually go above the notehead, otherwise they go below.
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