User manual

Table Of Contents

2. In the Properties panel, activate Beam direction in the Beaming group.

3. Select one of the following options from the menu:

● Flat

● Up

● Down

RESULT

The slants of the selected beams are changed while retaining correct positions relative to staff

lines. If the property scope was set to Locally, this change only takes effect in the current layout

and frame chain.

RELATED LINKS

Changing the property scope on page 149

Copying property settings to other layouts/frame chains on page 395

Centered beams

Centered beams are positioned between high and low notes within the same beamed group,

typically drawn in the middle of the staff or between the staves of grand staff instruments.

Centered beams are also known as “kneed” or “elbowed” beams due to their often angular

shape.

When a beamed phrase spans a large pitch range, normal beams are often positioned very close

to some notes in the phrase but very far from other notes in the phrase, making some stems

very long. Having a centered beam in a phrase that spans a large pitch range can reduce the

maximum distance between noteheads and the beam, but can also place the beam within the

staff, which can obscure staff lines.

A phrase with high and low notes with default

beaming

The same phrase with high and low notes, but with a

centered beam