When reading or playing music, it is necessary to be able to count the bars in a song. For example, a band director or music teacher may ask you to start playing at bar 32. If you are in an audition, the judge may ask you to sing the first 16 bars on a sheet of music that has been placed in front of you. If you don't know how to count the bars, it could possibly cost you the spot you are auditioning for. By taking the time to learn how to read bars, you are learning basic music theory that can help you with your musical performances and auditions.
Look at the vertical lines that are used to divide the the musical staff. These vertical lines represent “measures.” The measures are also referred to as “bars.”
Reference the “Time Signature” that is located at the beginning of the sheet of music. The top number of the time signature tells how many beats are in a full bar/measure. The bottom number reflects which note gets 1 beat. For example, in the time signature “4/4” there are 4 beats in a measure and the ¼ note gets 1 beat. In the time signature “6/8” there are 6 beats in a measure and the 1/8 note gets 1 beat.
Start counting each measure of music that has the amount of beats specified by the time signature. For example, if the time signature is 4/4, you will count each bar that has 4 full beats. If the time signature switches to 6/8, you will count each bar that has 6 full beats.
Don't count an incomplete measure as a full bar. Quite often a piece of sheet music will start with a short measure that does not have the amount of beats specified by the time signature. In most cases, the incomplete measure will be completed by the last measure on the sheet of music. For example, if the time signature is 4/4 and the first measure only has 1 beat, you will find the remaining 3 beats in the last measure of the song. Therefore, you will combine the first measure and the last measure to make one bar.
Continue counting all of the vertical lines that are on the musical staff to get an accurate count of the amount of bars that is in the musical piece.
Writer Bio
Faizah Imani, an educator, minister and published author, has worked with clients such as Harrison House Author, Thomas Weeks III, Candle Of Prayer Company and "Truth & Church Magazine." Her dossier includes JaZaMM WebDesigns, assistant high-school band director, district manager for the Clarion Ledger and event coordinator for the Vicksburg Convention Center.
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