Beaming & grouping reference

How to beam notes so the pulse of the time signature is obvious on the page. This guide matches what our mock paper expects in questions 1.4 (pick the correctly grouped bar) and supports 1.5 (rests).

Mock paper

Core principles

The reader should be able to see where each main beat starts without counting from the time signature.
Notes shorter than a beat are joined with beams (or flags if alone) so that each beam group belongs to one beat — or, in simple quadruple time, to one half-bar at most.
A new beam group normally begins on a strong beat. Do not start a group on the weak part of a beat unless a rest or dotted note has already shown the beat.
In compound time the beat is a dotted note. Beam groups must fit inside that dotted beat — usually three quaver-length units, or three semiquaver-length units in x/16.
In 4/4 and 4/2, do not beam across the centre of the bar (between beats 2 and 3). The halfway point must stay visible.
Ties carry sound across beats; beams show subdivision within beats. Do not use a beam where a tie is needed, or vice versa.

Simple vs compound

Simple time

Each beat divides into two equal parts. The bottom number of the time signature tells you the beat note (4 = crotchet, 8 = quaver, 2 = minim). Beam so each undotted beat is clear — usually one group per beat for quavers and semiquavers.

Compound time

Each beat divides into three equal parts. The top number is a multiple of 3 (6, 9, 12). The felt beat is a dotted note. Beam in threes at the level of the bottom number — not in twos, which suggests simple time.

Partition cheat sheet

Partitions show how many quaver-length (or semiquaver-length) units belong in each beam group. They must add up to the bar and match the meter you are in — not a different one.

Meter	Felt beats	Correct groups	Often misread as	Typical wrong groups
2/4	2 crotchets	2 + 2 quavers (one beam group per beat)	4/4 (half bar)	4 quavers in one group
3/4	3 crotchets	2 + 2 + 2 quavers	6/8 (one dotted beat)	6 quavers in one group, or 3 + 3
4/4	4 crotchets	2 + 2 + 2 + 2 quavers (break at bar centre)	6/8 + 2/8	3 + 3 + 2 quavers, or 4 quavers across beats 2–3
6/8	2 dotted crotchets	3 + 3 quavers	3/4 (three simple beats)	2 + 2 + 2 quavers
9/8	3 dotted crotchets	3 + 3 + 3 quavers	3/4 with extra splits	2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 quavers
12/8	4 dotted crotchets	3 + 3 + 3 + 3 quavers	4/4 or 6/4	2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 quavers, or 6 + 6
6/16	2 dotted quavers	3 + 3 semiquavers	3/8	2 + 2 + 2 semiquavers
4/2	4 minims	2 + 2 + 2 + 2 crotchets per minim (break at centre)	6/8 + 2/8 at crotchet level	3 + 3 + 2 crotchets, or beam across beats 2–3

Worked examples

Same rhythmic values, different beaming — compare correct and incorrect versions side by side.

4/4 (simple quadruple)

Correct grouping

4/4 — each crotchet beat is visible; quavers are in pairs; the bar centre (after beat 2) is clear.

Incorrect grouping

4/4 — four quavers are beamed through the middle of the bar, hiding the start of beat 3.

Incorrect grouping

4/4 — grouped like 6/8 + 2/8 (3 + 3 + 2 quavers), not four crotchet beats.

6/8 (compound duple)

Correct grouping

6/8 — two beats of three quavers each (compound duple).

Incorrect grouping

6/8 — beamed in threes of two quavers, as if the bar were 3/4.

Incorrect grouping

6/8 — irregular 3 + 2 + 1 quaver grouping (not two dotted-crotchet beats).

6/16 (compound duple)

Correct grouping

6/16 — two beats of three semiquavers (compound duple at semiquaver level).

Incorrect grouping

6/16 — first beat split into separate flagged notes instead of one compound group.

3/4 (simple triple)

Correct grouping

3/4 — three crotchet beats; semiquavers and quavers grouped per beat.

Incorrect grouping

3/4 — all six quavers under one beam, suggesting 6/8 rather than three crotchets.