Note stem
A vertical line on the notehead. It is missing on the whole note and on the breve (double whole note). If the head lies below the middle line the stem points up, from the middle line on it points down.
- Missing on
- whole note
- Below the middle line
- stem up, on the right of the head
- From the middle line
- stem down, on the left of the head
The note stem is the vertical line that is attached to the head of a note. Together with the head and any flags it determines the value of the note: the whole note has no stem, the half note has a stem and a hollow head, the quarter note a stem and a filled head.
The stem direction changes at the middle line
In the treble clef B4 lies on the middle line. The first two notes have the stem up, from B4 on it points down. The note on the middle line is marked.
Which way the stem points
The direction is a question of legibility. If the stem points down for high notes and up for low ones, it stays within the staff. If the head lies exactly on the middle line, the stem is put down. With the stem up it sits on the right of the head, with the stem down on the left.
Special cases
Several eighth notes or shorter notes are joined with beams. The stem direction then follows the note that lies farthest from the middle line; if the distance is equal, the stems point down. If two voices play on one staff, the stems of the upper voice point up and those of the lower down, so that the voices can be told apart.
Continue on Maikstrings
Related terms
NoteheadNote flagStaff linesNote valueQuarter noteHalf noteWhole note
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
← Back to the glossary