Starting on an upbeat
A short first bar
An upbeat (an anacrusis) is a short first bar, played before the first strong beat. Here the tune starts on the third beat of a bar of : one crotchet, then the first full bar.
Quick check
A tune in starts with one crotchet, then its first full bar. What is that crotchet?
The last bar balances it
The last bar is usually short by the same amount. The upbeat and the last bar add up to one full bar. In , a one-beat upbeat leaves two beats for the last bar.
Quick check
A tune in has a one-beat upbeat. How many beats, usually, does its last bar hold?
Remember
- An upbeat is a short first bar before the first strong beat.
- Upbeat plus last bar: one full bar.
This question is in Brainlag Plus