User manual

Table Of Contents
A beam is a line that connects notes with tails to show rhythmic grouping, which varies according
to the metrical structure of the current time signature.
This way of grouping notes helps performers calculate quickly exactly how to play their given
rhythm and helps them follow both their part and, if applicable, the conductor.
If appropriate for the current meter and position in the bar, beams are automatically formed in
Dorico Elements when you input two or more adjacent notes or chords that are an eighth note
(quaver) or shorter in duration.
Multiple beam groups in a 6/8 time signature
RELATED LINKS
Inputting notes on page 135
Beaming notes together manually
You can beam notes together manually, including notes across barlines as well as system/frame
breaks, for example, if you want to beam a phrase differently to how it is usually beamed in the
current time signature.
Beams by default stay within bars and systems, so to have beams cross barlines, system breaks,
and frame breaks, you must force the phrase to beam together.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the notes you want to beam together.
2. Choose Edit > Beaming > Beam Together. You can also choose this option from the
context menu.
RESULT
The selected notes are beamed together, even if they cross barlines or system/frame breaks.
If there are notes either side of the new beam group that were previously beamed to part or all
of your selection, they either beam together as separate beams, or appear unbeamed. This
depends on how many notes are left either side in the bar.
NOTE
Even if part of the beamed group previously had a centered beam, the new beam is not centered.
Beaming
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