MusicXML 4.1 Draft
MusicXML 4.1 Draft > MusicXML Reference > 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.

Content

beam-value

Attributes

Name Type Required?(Default) Description
color color No Indicates the color of an element.
Indicates the color of an element.
fan fan No Beams that have a begin value may also have a fan attribute to indicate accelerandos and ritardandos using fanned 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.
Beams that have a begin value may also have a fan attribute to indicate accelerandos and ritardandos using fanned 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.
id xs:ID No Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
number beam-level No (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.
repeater yes-no No Deprecated 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