Rhythm

Bar (Measure)

A group of beats organised by the time signature.

In plain English

Written music is divided into small sections called bars or measures. In 4/4 time, each bar normally contains four quarter-note beats.

Try or listen for this

Count “1, 2, 3, 4” and then begin again at 1. You have counted one bar of 4/4.

Why it matters

Bars give musicians a shared way to locate, count, repeat, and discuss parts of a piece.