Ask an Expert: Archive

Q: What is crossing the bar? What are some good examples of crossing the bar?

A: Playing across the bar is playing a musical phrase that starts in the inner beats of one bar and goes over into the next bar.This rhythm can be a simple compound rhythm that starts on the beat,or on an upbeat inside the bar that naturally extends across.One example would be quarter note triplets starting on beat four or even the and of three.

Thanks,
Ndugu Chancler