Time Signatures Flashcards
Simple and Compound time
Time signature: 4/4
Simple quadruple 4 crotchet beats per bar
Time signature: 6/8
Compound triple 6 quaver beats per bar OR Compound duple 2 dotted crotchet beats per bar
Time signature: 6/4
Compound duple or simple triple, quavers
Time signature: 3/4
Simple triple 3 crotchet beats per bar
Time signature: 2/4
Simple duple 2 crotchet beats per bar
Time signature: cut common 2/2
Cut common 2 minim beats per bar
Time signature: common
Common 4 crotchet beats per bar
4/4 Semibreve value
4 beats, full bar
6/8 dotted minim value
6 beats, full bar
6/8 minim value
4 beats
6/8 dotted crotchet value
3 beats, half bar
6/8 crotchet value
2 beats
6/8 quaver value
1 beat
6/8 semiquaver value
1/2 a beat
9/8
Compound Triple 3 dotted crotchets per bar
3/2
Simple Triple 3 minims per bar
What does the top number in a time signature mean
This indicates how many beats are in a bar.
What does the bottom number in a time signature mean. Provide examples with:
2/4
9/8
3/2
What type of beats are in each bar.
2/4 - 2 CROTCHET or quarter notes per bar.
9/8 - This one is divisible by 3 so we often would say that it is 3 dotted crotchets per bar.
3/2 - 3 Minim or half notes per bar
Why are groupings of notes important in music?
Groupings are important for musicians to read music easily. For example: 6/8 is usually grouped by 3 quavers or 2 dotted crotchets. Either way, the bar is split into 2, these are the pulses in the bar that are accented when counting music.
Do rests need to be grouped appropriately?
Yes. They are similar to notes and get counted the same way.
