#### 3.5.1 Manual beams

In some cases it may be necessary to override the automatic beaming algorithm. For example, the autobeamer will not put beams over rests or bar lines. Such beams are specified by manually: the begin and end point are marked with `[` and `]`

>          \context Staff {
>            r4 r8[ g' a r8] r8 g[ | a] r8
>          }

Normally, beaming patterns within a beam are determined automatically. If necessary, the properties `stemLeftBeamCount` and `stemRightBeamCount` can be used to override the defaults. If either property is set, its value will be used only once, and then it is erased

>          \context Staff {
>            f8[ r16 f g a]
>            f8[ r16 \set stemLeftBeamCount = #1 f g a]
>          }

The property `subdivideBeams` can be set in order to subdivide all 16th or shorter beams at beat positions, as defined by the `beatLength` property.

>          c16[ c c c c c c c]
>          \set subdivideBeams = ##t
>          c16[ c c c c c c c]
>          \set Score.beatLength = #(ly:make-moment 1 8)
>          c16[ c c c c c c c]

Kneed beams are inserted automatically, when a large gap is detected between the note heads. This behavior can be tuned through the object property `auto-knee-gap`.

Normally, line breaks are forbidden when beams cross bar lines. This behavior can be changed by setting `allowBeamBreak`.

##### Bugs

Automatically kneed cross-staff beams cannot be used together with hidden staves.

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