(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.
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.
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.
Sometimes notes may be beamed in pairs instead of fours.
Here is what a grouping would look like of four eighth notes that are ascending. Notice the upward angle of the beam.
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.
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.
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 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 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).
The fourth and fifth notes are now combined. If the measure line were not there, we could have written a half note instead.
Use this chart for reference to augmentation dots.
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