Time Signatures

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Time signatures show how many beats are in each measure (bar) of a piece of music, as well as which note value is counted as a beat. Time signatures are located at the beginning of the staff (a set of five lines), after the clef and key signature.

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The time signature is typically made up of two stacked numbers (like a fraction). The top number is the number of beats in a measure and the bottom number is the note value that represents one beat. For example, a song written in 4/4 time will have four quarter-note beats per measure, whereas a song written in 6/8 time will have six eighth-note beats per measure.

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1. Simple: The most common types of simple time signatures are 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and 2/2. Sometimes the letter “C” (meaning common time) will be used in place of 4/4. Both C and 4/4 indicate that there are four quarter note beats in each measure. For 2/4 and 3/4, there are two and three quarter note beats per measure, respectively.

1. 2/4: Two quarter-note beats per measure.

2. 3/4: Three quarter-note beats per measure.

3. 4/4: Four quarter-note beats per measure. Also known as common time and notated with a “C.”

4. 2/2: Two half-note beats per measure. Also known as cut time is notated as a “C” with a vertical slash through it.

 

2. Compound: Common compound time signatures include 9/4, 6/8, and 12/8. The beat of a piece of music with a compound time signature is broken into a three-part rhythm. In each of the cases above, quarter or eighth notes are combined in multiples of three.

1. 6/8: Six eighth-note beats per measure

2. 9/8: Nine eighth-note beats per measure

3. 12/8: Twelve eighth-note beats per measure

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3. Complex: Complex time signatures are more common in music written after the nineteenth century. Complex time signatures don't follow typical duple or triple meters. Examples of complex time signatures include: 5/4, 11/4, and 7/8.