ABSTRACT
A tie binds two notes together so that the second one is added to the value of the first and is not articulated. For example, the first two measures of Example 2.2 sound identical. A tie can also be used to “cheat” the bar line. For example, in order to begin a half-note on beat 4 of m. 3, it is necessary to tie one quarter-note to another across the bar line because a proper half-note on beat 4 would result in there being 5 beats in that measure. Similarly, the tie into the downbeat of m. 5 creates a note that is equivalent to a dotted quarter-note, but doesn’t violate the meter. Finally, ties are used when a note value would otherwise obscure beat 3 in a quadruple meter, as in the last two measures of Example 2.2.
2.2
