Anacrusis
One or more notes that precede the first full bar of a piece, functioning as an upbeat or pickup.
Category
rhythm
Pronunciation
/ˌænəˈkruːsɪs/
Origin
Greek (anakrousis, a pushing up)
Length
191 words · 1 min read
About Anacrusis
An anacrusis (plural: anacruses) is the note or group of notes that lead into the first strong beat of a phrase. Many well-known melodies begin with an anacrusis — the opening of Auld Lang Syne ("Should old") and God Save the King ("God save") both start before the first barline.
More rhythm terms
Offbeat
View all rhythmterms →Any beat or subdivision that falls between the main beats of a bar, often used for rhythmic interest and lift.
QuaverA note lasting half a beat in common time, equivalent to an eighth note in American terminology.
TripletA group of three notes played in the time normally occupied by two notes of the same value.
BeatThe basic unit of time in music — the regular pulse a listener feels
Time SignatureA notational convention indicating how many beats are in each bar and which note value gets one beat
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →