Sometimes, though rarely, composers will use a 16 representing the sixteenth note or a 1 representing the whole note in time signatures. It can be a variety of note values, as in 2/4 (4 representing a quarter note), 6/8 (8 representing an eighth note), or 2/2 (2 representing a half note). It is called “three four” time.Īs previously stated, the bottom number on the time signature is the number that designates what kind of note receives 1 beat. Since there is not really a line separating the numbers, 3/4 time is not referred to as “three fourths” time.
Because time signatures have one number written above and below the middle line of the staff, they look similar to fractions at the beginning of a piece of music. To reiterate, a time signature designates how many beats in a measure and what kind of note receives one beat. In general, common time, or 4/4 meter, is the most common meter used in music, especially popular music, rock, rap, and hip-hop. Two exceptions to time signatures with two numerals are the symbols for common time (simple quadruple meter, or 4/4) and cut time ( alla breve, simple duple meter, or 2/2 see figure 2.3). The lower number, in this case the numeral 4, tells the musician that a quarter note receives one beat. For example, if the time signature is 4/4, the upper number indicates that there are four beats per measure. A discussion of counting asymmetrical meter occurs later in this chapter.Ī time signature notation does two things: The top number indicates how many beats occur per measure, and the lower number gives the type of note that will receive one beat (see figure 2.2). In music with an asymmetrical meter such as 5/4, beats can be stressed in a variety of combinations. In music with more complex mixed meters where the time signature may change from measure to measure, the music's flow may feel irregular. By creating consistent groupings of beats, or by using measures with the same number of beats, music has a feeling of an even flow or pace. The top number in time signatures reflects the number of beats in regular, repeated groupings of beats in each measure (see figure 2.1). Beginning with the first beat, a musician may count 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on depending on what the top number is in the time signature. The time signature, also known as meter signature, of a piece of music defines how the beat is organized by prescribing how many beats occur per measure and what kind of note designates one beat. This is an excerpt from Music Fundamentals for Dance With Web Resource by Nola Holland.
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