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A time signature specifies the number of beats per bar (numerator) and the beat note value (denominator)

Concept L1Foundations A · Music theory & musicianship

A time signature consists of two stacked numbers: the upper number (numerator) tells how many beats are in each metric cycle (bar/measure); the lower number (denominator) tells what note value receives one beat (4 = quarter note, 8 = eighth note, 2 = half note). 4/4 means 4 quarter-note beats per bar — the default for most electronic music. 3/4 means 3 quarter-note beats (waltz). 6/8 means 6 eighth-note beats, typically grouped as 2 dotted-quarter beats (compound duple). Simple time signatures (2/4, 3/4, 4/4) divide each beat in 2; compound time signatures (6/8, 9/8, 12/8) divide each beat in 3.

Examples

4/4: kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4. 6/8: two groups of three eighth notes — used in shuffle feels.

Assessment

What does 6/8 mean? How many eighth notes fit in one bar of 6/8? Why does 6/8 sound different from 3/4?

Prerequisites — understand these first

Sources

“Time signatures consist of a series of two numbers—the upper number (the numerator), which signifies the number of beats in the metric cycle, and the lower number (the denominator), which signifies the value of those beats in terms of halves, quarters, eighths, and so on”
corpus · michael-hewitt-music-theory-for-computer-musicians · chunk 15

Taught in modules

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