* If you are a complete novice it is advisable to read the following modules before attempting questions on adding missing bar lines:
1. Notes & note values
2. Simple time signatures
Here is a typical question for grade 1 about adding missing bar lines.
Add the missing bar lines to this melody. The first bar line is given.
To work out where to place missing bar lines in any given melody it is important to look at the time signature. The time signatures you will use in grade 1 will be 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4. The top number tells you how many beats per bar and the bottom number tells you the value of each beat. We use the figure 4 to mean crotchet, therefore 2/4 will be 2 crotchet beats in a bar, 3/4 will be 3 crotchet beats in a bar and 4/4 will be 4 crotchet beats in a bar.
Count the number of beats as shown by the time signature then place a bar line on the stave.
The answer to the question is shown below: