Beam (music)

In musical notation, a beam is a horizontal or diagonal line used to connect multiple consecutive notes (and occasionally rests) to indicate rhythmic grouping.

Beam spans indicate rhythmic groupings, usually determined by the time signature.

[1] In modern practice, beams may span across rests in order to make rhythmic groups clearer.

In vocal music, beams were traditionally used only to connect notes sung to the same syllable.

[2] In modern practice it is more common to use standard beaming rules, while indicating multi-note syllables with slurs.