Mostly atouta is shorter than maeuta, the ai-no-te is fewer if any, and they are short and play a role of coda of the whole song or a "kyu" of "Jo-ha-kyu" (three segments of performance and speed of plays; slower and quieter performance during the jo (beginning), gradually gaining the tempo in the ha (middle portion), and becoming more energetic during the kyu (denouement)).
後唄はたいてい前唄よりも短く、合の手も少なく、あっても短いが、曲全体のコーダ的、あるいは序破急の急的役割をしている。