Time Signatures

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Chapter 2 · Lesson 01

In short

The time signature is the fraction-like number at the start of every piece. The top number says how many beats each measure has; the bottom one says which note value counts as one beat. The first beat of every measure is the strongest and gives the meter its character.

Lesson Notes

A piece of music is not an unorganized, endless stream of beats. We divide it into equal units called measures (bars), and the time signature at the start of the score tells us how each measure is organized.

01What a measure is

A measure is a repeating unit of beats (usually 2, 3 or 4). On the score it is separated from its neighbours by a vertical barline.

Three consecutive 4/4 measures

Three consecutive 4/4 measures. Each measure has 4 beats and is separated from the next by a vertical line.

02The time signature

At the start of every piece, after the clef, there is a symbol that looks like a fraction. That is the time signature.

Anatomy of 4/4

How many beats per measure(here: 4 beats)

Which value equals one beat(here: 4 = quarter)

"4/4 = four quarters in every measure"

The 4/4 time signature. The top number says how many beats each measure has, the bottom one which note value counts as one beat.

The top number says how many beats each measure has.
The bottom number says which note value counts as one beat. It is usually 4 (quarter), 8 (eighth) or 2 (half).

03Common meters in Western music

Three meters you will meet most often in Western music:

4/4 · Four beats per measure

strong: the 1st
medium strong: the 3rd
weak: 2nd, 4th

3/4 · Three beats per measure · The waltz

strong: the 1st
weak: 2nd, 3rd a rolling, dance-like feel

2/4 · Two beats per measure · The march

strong: the 1st
weak: the 2nd a clipped, marching-step feel

The three most common meters. The first beat of each measure (larger number) is the strongest and gives the meter its character.

Two alternative symbols: 4/4 is sometimes written as C (from "common time"), and 2/2 as ¢ ("cut time").

04The strong beat

In the figure above, the first beat of each measure is written larger. That signals that the first beat is the strongest: the "heavy" moment of the measure, the one the dance step lands on.

This hierarchy gives each meter its character:

4/4 gives a steady, balanced feel.
3/4 gives a dancing waltz feel.
2/4 gives a clipped marching step.

Recap

Music is divided into measures, repeating units of beats. On the score they are separated by barlines.
The time signature at the start of the piece tells us how many beats each measure has and which value counts as one beat.
Top number = how many beats. Bottom number = which value (4 = quarter, 8 = eighth, 2 = half).
The most common: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4. Alternative symbols: C (= 4/4), ¢ (= 2/2).
The first beat of every measure is the strong one and gives the meter its feel.