Bar Lines are vertical lines in our music that have specific functions based upon how many of them are used and their “size” (thickness).
When writing bar lines, there are:
Depending on where you are in the world, bar lines may also be referred to by different terms (or names). There are rules for Writing Bar Lines too!
Before Writing Bar Lines, let us understand what they are.
In the Ultimate Music Theory Workbooks, we have chosen to refer to the line (or lines) that separate music into equal measures of time as “Bar Line” (or “Bar Lines”).
We have chosen to refer to the area between the Bar Lines as a “Measure”. This avoids confusion. Students understand that the "bar line" is the line and the "measure" is the area between the bar lines.
Would you rather ask your student to “Add Bars to create equal Bars” or "Add Bar Lines to create equal Measures"?
Bar Lines are taught in the Prep 1 Rudiments Workbook on Page 32 and in the Basic Rudiments Workbook on Page 13.
When writing Bar Lines, there are (typically) 3 common types of Bar Lines (not including Repeat Signs, which we will look at in another Blog).
A “single” (thin) Bar Line is used at the end of a measure. Single Bar Lines divide music into equal measures of time.
A “double” (2 thin) Bar Line is used at the end of a section of music (which is not necessarily the end of the music). It is also used before a Time Signature change or before a Key Signature change in the music. Around the world, this type of Bar Line is known as a “Double Bar Line”, a “Double Bar” and even an “Interior Double Bar Line”.
A “double” (1 thin + 1 thick) Bar Line is used at the end of the music (or at the very end of a particular movement within a multi-movement piece). This type of Bar Line is known as a “Double Bar Line”, a “Final Bar Line”, a “Final Double Bar Line”, a “Period Double Bar Line” and also a “Terminal Double Bar Line”.
