MusicXML 4.1 Draft
< >elements
@attributes
MusicXML 4.1 Draft>Elements>The <beam> element

The <beam> element

Parent element: <note>

beam

Beam values include begin, continue, end, forward hook, and backward hook. Each beam in a note is represented with a separate <beam> element with a different number attribute, starting with the eighth note beam using a value of 1.

Note that the beam number does not distinguish sets of beams that overlap, as it does for slur and other elements. Beaming groups are distinguished by being in different voices and/or the presence or absence of grace and cue elements.

Beams that have a begin value can also have a fan attribute to indicate accelerandos and ritardandos using fanned beams (also called “feathered beams”). The fan attribute may also be used with a continue value if the fanning direction changes on that note. The value is “none” if not specified.

The repeater attribute has been deprecated in MusicXML 3.0. Formerly used for tremolos, it needs to be specified with a “yes” value for each beam using it.

Content

beam-value

Attributes

NameTypeRequired?(Default)Description
colorcolorNoIndicates the color of an element.
Indicates the color of an element.
fanfanNoBeams that have a begin value may also have a fan attribute to indicate accelerandos and ritardandos using fanned beams (also called feathered beams). The fan attribute may also be used with a continue value if the fanning direction changes on that note. The value is none if not specified.

Because fanning affects all the beams in a beaming group, it is enough to declare it only once in the group, i.e. in a single <beam> element. This is equivalent to adding the same fan value to all <beam> elements in the beaming group. If different fan values are declared in the same beaming group, the behavior of the application will be undefined. A fan attribute applied to a single beam (an eighth note) has no meaning and should be ignored by the application.

Beams that have a begin value may also have a fan attribute to indicate accelerandos and ritardandos using fanned beams (also called feathered beams). The fan attribute may also be used with a continue value if the fanning direction changes on that note. The value is none if not specified.

Because fanning affects all the beams in a beaming group, it is enough to declare it only once in the group, i.e. in a single <beam> element. This is equivalent to adding the same fan value to all <beam> elements in the beaming group. If different fan values are declared in the same beaming group, the behavior of the application will be undefined. A fan attribute applied to a single beam (an eighth note) has no meaning and should be ignored by the application.

idxs:IDNoSpecifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
numberbeam-levelNo(1)Indicates eighth note through 1024th note beams using number values 1 thru 8 respectively. The default value is 1.

Note that this attribute does not distinguish sets of beams that overlap, as it does for <slur> and other elements. Beaming groups are distinguished by being in different voices, and/or the presence or absence of <grace> and <cue> elements.

Indicates eighth note through 1024th note beams using number values 1 thru 8 respectively. The default value is 1.

Note that this attribute does not distinguish sets of beams that overlap, as it does for <slur> and other elements. Beaming groups are distinguished by being in different voices, and/or the presence or absence of <grace> and <cue> elements.

repeateryes-noNoDeprecated as of Version 3.0. Formerly used for tremolos, it needs to be specified with a “yes” value for each <beam> using it.
Deprecated as of Version 3.0. Formerly used for tremolos, it needs to be specified with a “yes” value for each <beam> using it.

Examples

This element is used in the following examples:

<alter> (Semitones)<barline><beam><bracket><chord> (Multiple stop)<cue><extend> (Lyric)<forward><grouping><ipa><lyric><measure-distance><normal-dot><pedal> (Lines)<slur><staff><syllabic><tremolo> (Double)<tuplet-dot><tuplet> (Nested)<tuplet> (Regular)<unpitched><voice><wedge>Tutorial: Après un rêveTutorial: Chopin PreludeTutorial: PercussionTutorial: Tablature