Beaming quavers over rests? Options

[CWC7]

Hi, I have a couple of questions about beaming quavers.

In 4/4 time if from the start of the bar I have a quaver rest and then 3 quavers, can I beam the 3 quavers together or should the 1st quaver be written on it's own, to show 1 beat with the quaver rest, and then the other 2 beamed together to show the 2nd beat? Or are both ways acceptable?

Also if I have 2 quavers, then a quaver rest, then another quaver, can I beam the three quavers over the quaver rest? If so, can it also be correct not to do so, so instead have 2 quavers beamed together, followed by a quaver rest and then an individual quaver. Once again, please assume I'm at the beginning of the bar.I know I can't beam quavers over beats 2 and 3.

I hope my question makes sense and any replies gratefully received.

Thank you

[owainsutton]

Hi, I have a couple of questions about beaming quavers.

In 4/4 time if from the start of the bar I have a quaver rest and then 3 quavers, can I beam the 3 quavers together or should the 1st quaver be written on it's own, to show 1 beat with the quaver rest, and then the other 2 beamed together to show the 2nd beat? Or are both ways acceptable?

All three together, so that the break in the beam still indicates the halfway point in the bar.

Also if I have 2 quavers, then a quaver rest, then another quaver, can I beam the three quavers over the quaver rest? If so, can it also be correct not to do so, so instead have 2 quavers beamed together, followed by a quaver rest and then an individual quaver.

In this case, either option is acceptable: the musical context might suggest one will be clearer than the other. If the quaver after the rest is the beginning of a new phrase, breaking the beam at the rest would make sense. On the other hand, if the group is part of a longer melodic line, a beam over the rest keeps a visual indication of continuity.

[CWC7]

Thank you Owain.