5. Simple and Compound Time Flashcards
What are the top numbers in a Simple Time Signature and what do the top numbers signify?
2, 3 or 4. Top number signifies the number of beats per measure.
What are the top numbers in the time signature for simple time?
2, 3 or 4
What are the top numbers in the time signature for compound time?
6, 9 or 12
What is the common characteristic of compound time?
It is always in groups of three,
What does the top number in a time signature depict?
Number of beats per measure.
What does the bottom number in a time signature depict?
The basic beat - the kind of note that equals one basic beat - one count.
What is a basic beat?
A single note for each equal group.
What is the pulse?
Pulse is where the rhythmic emphasis falls.
In compound time, what do three pulses equal?
One dotted pulse.
In compound time, what do three basic beats equal?
One dotted compound basic beat.
What is the pulse if the top number in a time signature is 2?
S w
What is the pulse if the top number in a time signature is 3?
S w w
What is the pulse if the top number in a time signature is 4?
S w M w
What is the pulse if the top number in a time signature is 6?
S. w. or Sww Mww
What is the pulse if the top number in a time signature is 9?
S. w. w. or Sww Mww Mww
What is the pulse if the top number in a time signature is 12?
S. w. M. w. or Sww Mww Mww Mww
When is a dotted rest used?
Only in compound time.
When is a dotted rest used used in compound time?
To complete a group of three beats or pulses.
S+w+w (S. w. w.) or M+w+w (M. w. w.)
And to combine the compound beat S.w. or M. w. in 9 or 12 time.
Where is the dot in a dotted rest written?
Always in space three.
When is a dotted rest used?
For a complete group of three beats - one compound basic beat (dotted note).
What Compound Basic Beats are combined with a Dotted Rest in 9 or or 12 time?
Compound basic beat S. + w. or M. + w.
What is the top number in the time signature for simple duple time and compound duple time?
Simple - 2
Compound - 6
What is each group equal to in Simple Time?
One Basic Beat - one note, no dot.
What is each group equal to in Compound Time?
One Compound Basis Beat - one dotted note.
How many groups of 3 are in compound duple time?
Two groups of three notes.
How many of what notes are in each measure of
a) 6/4 time?
b) 6/8 time?
c) 6/16 time?
a) 6 quarter notes
b) 6 eighth notes
c) 6 sixteenth notes
What is the basic beat in
a) 6/4, 9/4 and 12/4 time?
b) 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8 time?
c) 6/16, 9/16 and 12/16time?
a) Quarter note
b) Eighth notes
c) Sixteenth notes
How are the 6 notes in 6/4, 6/8 and 6/16 time divided?
Two groups of 3 quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes.
What do the 2 groups of 3 notes equal in 6/4, 6/8 and 6/16 time and what are they called?
6/4 - 2 dotted half notes
6/8 - 2 dotted quarter notes
6/16 - 2 dotted eighth notes
the compound basic beat.
What is the compound basic beat?
The one note that is equal to the three basic beats.
What is the top number in the time signature for simple triple time and compound triple time?
Simple time - 3
Compound time- 9
What is the top number in the time signature for simple duple time and compound time?
Simple time - 4
Compound time - 12
How many groups of 3 are in compound triple time?
Three groups of three.
How many groups of 3 are in compound quadruple time?
Four groups of three.
How many of what notes are in each measure of
a) 9/4 time?
b) 9/8 time?
c) 9/16 time?
a) 9 quarter notes
b) 9 eighth notes
c) 9 sixteenth notes
How many of what notes are in each measure of
a) 12/4 time?
b) 12/8 time?
c) 12/16 time?
a) 12 quarter notes
b) 12 eighth notes
c) 12 sixteenth notes
How are the 9 notes in 9/4, 9/8 and 9/16 time divided?
Three groups of 3 quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes.
How are the 12 notes in 12/4, 12/8 and 12/16 time divided?
Four groups of 3 quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes.
What do the 3 groups of 3 notes equal in 9/4, 9/8 and 9/16 time and what are they called?
9/4 - 3 dotted half notes
9/8 - 3 dotted quarter notes
9/16 - 3 dotted eighth notes
the compound basic beat.
What do the 4 groups of 3 notes equal in 12/4, 12/8 and 12/16 time and what are they called?
12/4 - 4 dotted half notes
12/8 - 4 dotted quarter notes
12/16 - 4 dotted eighth notes
the compound basic beat.
When combining basic beats using rests - what does a Strong pulse join?
A weak pulse or two weak pulses into one rest - S + w or S + w + w
When combining basic beats using rests - what does a Medium pulse join?
A weak pulse or two weak pulses into one rest - M + w or M + w + w
When combining basic beats using rests - what does a weak pulse join?
A weak pulse cannot be joined to a Medium or Weak pulse - w ~ M or w ~ w
When combining compound basic beats using rests - what does a Strong dotted pulse join?
A weak dotted pulse into one rest - S. + w.
When combining compound basic beats using rests - what does a Medium dotted pulse join?
A weak dotted pulse into one rest - M. + w.
When combining basic beats using rests - what does a weak dotted pulse join?
A weak dotted pulse cannot be joined to a Medium dotted or Weak dotted pulse - w. ~ M. or w. ~ w.
When is a dotted whole rest used?
Only in 9/4 or 12/4 time to combine S. + w. or M. + w.
Where does the dot go when writing a dotted rest?
After the dot in space three.
In Compound Time, what does a Whole Rest fill?
Any measure with silence. It combines a Strong beat with all the other beats
With respect to a Whole Rest, what does the top number of the Compound Time Signature indicate?
The number of beats the whole rest receives.
How are Irregular Groups in Simple Time and Compound Time identified?
By a small number above or below a group of notes.
What does the small number above or below an irregular group of notes indicate?
The small number indicates how many notes are in a group.
How many notes in Simple Time regular groups?
2 or 4
How many notes in Compound Time regular groups?
3 or 6
How is an irregular group of notes played?
In the time of a regular group of the SAME note value.
What is an irregular group equal to?
One regular group of the same note value (one complete beat).
In simple time what are irregular groups of 5, 6 and 7 notes called and how are they played?
5 - quintuplet
6 - sextuplet
7 - septuplet
All are played in the time of 4 notes of the same value.
In compound time what are irregular groups of 2 or 4 notes called and how are they played?
2 - duplet
4 - quadruplet
Both are played in the time of three notes of the same value.
In compound time what are irregular groups of 5 or 7 notes called and how are they played?
5 - quintuplet
7 - septuplet
Both are played in the time of 3 or 6 notes of the same value based on the Time Signature and the value of the other notes or rests in the measure.
What is the value of the 2 dots in double dotted notes?
The first dot equals half the value of the note. The second dot equals half the value of the first dot.
What are the options for the bottom number in the time signature in simple time?
2 - half note
4 - quarter note
8 - eighth note
16 - sixteenth note
What are the options for the bottom number in the time signature in compound time?
4 - quarter note
8 - eighth note
16 - sixteenth note
What is the top number in the time signature for simple and compound DUPLE time?
2 - simple
6 - compound
What is the top number in the time signature for simple and compound TRIPLE time?
3 - simple time
9 - compound time
What is the top number in the time signature for simple and compound QUADRUPLE time?
4 - simple time
12 - compound time
What is the main characteristic of compound time?
Groups of three beats Top number / groups of three 6 / 2 groups of 3 9 / 3 groups of 3 12 / 4 groups of 3
With a basic beat of a quarter note (bottom number 4), what is the compound basic beat?
Dotted half note.
With a basic beat of an eighth note (bottom number 8) what is the compound basic beat?
Dotted quarter note.
With a basic beat of a sixteenth note (bottom number 16) what is the compound basic beat?
Dotted eighth note.
With a bottom number of 2, what is the basic beat in simple time?
Half note
With a bottom number of 4, what is the basic beat in simple time?
Quarter note
With a bottom number of 8, what is the basic beat in simple time?
Eighth note
With a bottom number of 16, what is the basic beat in simple time?
Sixteenth note
With a bottom number of 4, what is the compound basic beat in compound time?
Dotted half note
With a bottom number of 8, what is the compound basic beat in compound time?
Dotted quarter note.
With a bottom number of 16? what is the compound basic beat in compound time?
Dotted eighth note.
