Time Signature

What is a Time Signature?

Time signature is a symbol which we write at the beginning of a piece of music to show how many beats there are in one bar.

There are two types of time signature:

1. Simple time 

2. Compound time.

At this stage, we would only be learning simple time signatures.

In simple time signatures, there are 3 types: Simple duple, simple triple and simple quadruple.

The Bottom Number 

Tells you the type of beat needed to be count in each complete bar

In this case: 2 means minim

                   4 means crotchet and

                   8 means quaver

The Upper Number

Tells you how many beats needed to be count in each complete bar.

In this case: 2 means 2 beats

                  3 means 3 beats

                  4 mean 4 beats

The Time Signature

     means 2 crotchet beats in a bar

Means 3 minim beats in a bar

      

Means 4 quaver beats in a bar             

Means 2 crotchet beats in a bar