(RN) Beaming, Dots, and Ties Lesson

Beaming, Dots, and Ties

Beams

In musical notation, a beam is a horizontal or diagonal line used to connect multiple consecutive notes in order to indicate rhythmic grouping. Only eighth notes or shorter can be beamed. The number of beams is equal to the number of flags that would be present on an un-beamed note.

The span of beams indicates the rhythmic grouping, usually determined by the time signature. Therefore, beams do not usually cross bar lines. 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 note head, otherwise they go below.

4 eighth notes beamed together.

Here is what a grouping would look like of 4 eighth notes of the same pitch (above the middle line) that are beamed together. The stems would go down.

four eighth notes below the middle line beamed together

Here is what a grouping would look like of 4 eighth notes of the same pitch (below the middle line) that are beamed together. The stems would go up.

Pairs of beamed notes

Sometimes notes may be beamed in pairs instead of fours.

ascending eighth notes that are paired in a beam

Here is what a grouping would look like of four eighth notes that are ascending. Notice the upward angle of the beam.

descending beamed eighth notes

Dots and Ties

Augmentation dots and tenuto ties are two types of markings used to alter a note's duration.

A dot increases duration by one half.

A dotted quarter note equals an eighth note plus a quarter note

Since an eighth note is half the duration of a quarter note, we will substitute it for the 1/2 symbol. As you can see, a dotted quarter note is equal to a quarter note plus an eighth note.

three eighth notes equals a quarter note with a dot.

A dotted quarter note can also equal three eighth notes.

Following the same process established for a quarter note, you may add a dot and lengthen any note value.

a half note with a dot = a half note and a quarter note

A dotted half note is equal to a half note plus a quarter note.

A dotted eighth note is equal to an eighth note plus a sixteenth note.

Ties merging multiple quarter notes of the same pitch

Ties merge multiple notes of the same pitch. They are used to let the duration of a note travel across barriers (such as the measure line in this example).

fourth and fifth notes

The fourth and fifth notes are now combined. If the measure line were not there, we could have written a half note instead.

Augmentation chart for dots

Use this chart for reference to augmentation dots.

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