Beam

What it means

A beam is a horizontal or slightly slanted line that connects the stems of several consecutive eighth notes or shorter values. It replaces the individual flags that these note values would otherwise carry.

The number of beams matches the number of flags: eighth notes get one beam, sixteenth notes two, thirty-second notes three, and so on. When notes of different values are beamed together, the number of beams differs from note to note.

In the notation

Beams usually run on the side of the stems opposite the noteheads, and their slant often follows the melodic contour of the connected notes. Their main function is to group notes rhythmically at a glance, for instance grouping four sixteenth notes into one beat.

Musical use

Beaming generally follows the time signature: in 4/4 time, eighth notes are usually beamed in groups of two or four, each making one beat or part of a beat visible. In meters with an uneven subdivision, such as 6/8, the beaming shows the division into two groups of three.

The beam should be distinguished from the flag, which is attached to single, unbeamed notes, and from the slur, which connects two notes of the same or different pitch musically into one continuous phrase without indicating rhythmic grouping.

Performance practice

Use beam groupings as a guide when sight-reading: they show you at a glance where the beats fall, without having to count every single note. Pay special attention in unusual beamings, for instance across beats, to which beat is meant to be emphasized.