Beams show the beats
A beat at a time
Beams group the notes a beat at a time. That is so a player can see where each beat starts. Two quavers make one beat, so they are beamed in pairs. Four semiquavers make one beat, so they are beamed in fours.
Quick check
How are the quavers in a bar of beamed?
Never in threes
In , six quavers beamed in threes look like two big beats. But the bar has three beats, not two. Each crotchet beat should be its own group. So the six quavers go in three pairs.
Never across the middle
In , four quavers can share one beam. That is allowed over beats 1 and 2, or beats 3 and 4. But never across the middle of the bar. The middle of the bar must always be easy to see.
Quick check
In , which beats may four quavers share one beam over?
Remember
- Beam a beat at a time: quavers in pairs, semiquavers in fours.
- In : three pairs, never threes.
- In : never a beam across the middle of the bar.
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