Rhythm and Time Signature
Note Value:
Here is a note value table showing the length of different types of notes:
Here is a note value table showing the length of different types of notes:
Time Signature
Music is organized into groupings of beats.
Notes and rests are written in BARS to show these groupings.
The single vertical lines called BARLINES divide the bars. DOUBLE BARS are used at the end of a section of music or the entire composition.
Music is organized into groupings of beats.
Notes and rests are written in BARS to show these groupings.
The single vertical lines called BARLINES divide the bars. DOUBLE BARS are used at the end of a section of music or the entire composition.
A TIME SIGNATURE is two numbers on top of each other at the beginning of music to tell us the groupings.
The TOP number tells us how many beats per bar
The BOTTOM number tells us what sort of beats they are.
4 as a bottom number (the most common) = a crotchet
8 as a bottom number = a quaver
2 as a bottom number = a minim
Instead of two numbers, you may also see these symbols:
This means COMMON TIME and is the same as 4/4 time.
This means CUT COMMON TIME and it the same as 2/2 time.
Look at the short composition below:
The TOP number tells us how many beats per bar
The BOTTOM number tells us what sort of beats they are.
4 as a bottom number (the most common) = a crotchet
8 as a bottom number = a quaver
2 as a bottom number = a minim
Instead of two numbers, you may also see these symbols:
This means COMMON TIME and is the same as 4/4 time.
This means CUT COMMON TIME and it the same as 2/2 time.
Look at the short composition below:
The time signature of this piece is 4/4 because there are the equivalent of four crotchet beats per bar.
There are three main types of time signatures. They are SIMPLE, COMPOUND and IRREGULAR.
SIMPLE METERS are time signatures whose top number is 2, 3 or 4.
COMPOUND METERS are time signatures whose top number is divisible by three but is not three.
IRREGULAR METERS are time signatures whose top number is divisible by neither two nor three.
There are three main types of time signatures. They are SIMPLE, COMPOUND and IRREGULAR.
SIMPLE METERS are time signatures whose top number is 2, 3 or 4.
COMPOUND METERS are time signatures whose top number is divisible by three but is not three.
IRREGULAR METERS are time signatures whose top number is divisible by neither two nor three.
Tempo:
The TEMPO of a piece is shown in Italian words:
The TEMPO of a piece is shown in Italian words:
Other terms related to tempo: