bar line in music

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablemusic

   A vertical line drawn on a musical staff to mark where one bar or measure ends and the next begins.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a bar line' or 'bar lines'. It is usually written as two words in British English.

   Patterns

   • draw a bar line
   • between the bar lines
   • at the bar line

   The conductor asked the players to watch the bar line carefully.

   A double bar line often shows the end of a section or piece.

   She drew a bar line after every four beats.

2. 2nouncountablemusic

   A line in printed music that separates measures, especially when it is a special type such as a double or final bar line.

   Grammar: Still countable; the plural 'bar lines' refers to several such lines.

   Patterns

   • double bar line
   • final bar line
   • repeat bar line

   The repeat sign is placed on the bar line.

   A final bar line has one thick and one thin stroke.

   He put a double bar line at the end of the song.

Word forms

Common combinations

double bar line

The double bar line marks the end of the piece.

final bar line

A final bar line is drawn at the very end.

repeat bar line

The repeat bar line tells you to go back.

draw a bar line

Draw a bar line after each measure.

at the bar line

The note starts exactly at the bar line.

Synonyms and how they differ

barline

Same meaning, but usually written as one word, especially in American English.

measure line

A less common term that means the same thing, mainly used in American English.

Word family

bar noun

The section of music between two bar lines.

measure noun

American word for a bar; the section between bar lines.

staff noun

The set of five lines on which notes are written, including bar lines.

Commonly confused: bar line in music or bar?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bar line in music”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words