Stems are used on every note except the whole note. They signify a notes duration.

Stem Direction

Notes below the middle staff line are written in an upward direction with the stem on the right side of the note head. Notes from the middle staff line and above it are in the downward direction, with the stem drawn from the left side of the note head.

Stem Length

Stems are usually one octave in length.

Flags and Beams

Any note with a duration shorter than a quarter note is written with a flag, except when notes of a similar duration are right next to each other. In those cases, we use beams to attach them together. This makes music more readable.

The stem's flag is always faced toward the right, in the direction the music flows.