Time Signature

Hello Everyone, today I will be discussing on Time signature in the Theory of Music.

At the beginning of a piece of music, there is a sign called a Time Signature. Time signatures define the amount and type of notes that each measure contains. It is also known as measure signature.  It consist of two numbers written like a fraction. See image below

Clearly the top figures in the time signature in the image above shows how many beats are there in a bar.
The bottom figures in the time signature in the image above shows what kind of note is to be used to represent the beat. If the bottom figure is 4, the beats will be shown as crotchets; if it is 2, the beats will be minims; if it is 8; they will be quavers. (It is helpful here to remember the alternative word for minims, crotchet, etc.: half notes, quarter notes etc.) Thus from the image above their time signature means that:
This means that there are 4beats in a bar and the beats in the bar are written as crotchets.     

This means that there are 3beats in a bar and the beats in the bar are written as crotchets.

This means that there are 6beats in a bar and the beats in the bar are written as quavers. 

This means that there are 3beats in a bar and the beats in the bar are written as minims.

There are various types of time signatures, depending on whether the music follows simple rhythms or involves unusual shifting tempos, but the two main types of time signature are:

Simple Time signature: With simple time signatures, the beat of a piece of music can be broken down into two part rhythms. Simple time signatures are the easiest to count, because a one-two pulse in a piece of music feels the most natural to a listener and a performer. Common examples of simple time signatures are shown in the Image below. 


Compound Time Signature: In compound time signatures, the beat is broken down into three part rhythms. The top number is evenly divisible by 3, with the exception of time signatures where the top number is 3. Also, each beat is divided into three components, creating a one-two three pulse. Common examples of compound time signatures are shown in the image below. 


 Courtesy: http://www.dummies.com/art-center/music/piano/understanding-simple-and-compound-time-signatures/

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