bar lines

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralmusic

   The vertical lines drawn on a musical staff to separate it into measures or bars.

   Grammar: Always used in the plural when referring to the lines collectively; a single one is called a 'bar line'.

   Patterns

   • draw bar lines
   • bar lines separate measures
   • at the bar line

   The teacher asked us to add bar lines to the rhythm exercise.

   In this piece, the bar lines are faint, so it's hard to see where each measure begins.

   He placed a double bar line at the end of the section.

2. 2nouncountablemusic

   A vertical line on a staff that marks the end of a section or piece, often drawn double.

   Grammar: A single such line is a 'bar line'; two together form a 'double bar line'.

   Patterns

   • double bar line
   • final bar line
   • end with a double bar line

   The composer wrote a double bar line to show the end of the song.

   Make sure the final bar line is clear so the performer knows where to stop.

Word forms

Common combinations

add bar lines

Please add bar lines to the melody on the board.

draw bar lines

The students learned to draw bar lines evenly.

double bar line

A double bar line marks the end of the piece.

bar lines separate measures

Bar lines separate measures in written music.

at the bar line

The note is held until the next bar line.

Synonyms and how they differ

measure lines

Used mainly in American English; 'bar lines' is more common in British English.

Word family

bar noun

A unit of music containing a fixed number of beats; in British English it is the same as a measure.

measure noun

American English term for a bar of music.

Commonly confused: bar lines or barline?

Practice

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