Contents: Start with Staffs
and Rhythm and ScalesTime Signatures
Every musical composition has a time signature at the beginning of the first staff, This symbol indicates two important facts about the overall rhythm of the piece,
The top number of the time signature indicates how many beats there are in each measure, The bottom number determines which type of note is worth one beat,
The time signature is a guidepost to the overall rhythm of a piece of music. Each time signature also has a characteristic pattern of stressed and unstressed beats, In the sections that follow, you'll take a look at some basic time signatures and their characteristic patterns of stress.
4/4 Time
(pronounced "four-four") is the most common time signature used in written music, Much of the music we've examined in the book so far has been in 4/4 time-with four beats in each measure and the quarter note lasting for its natural value of one beat, The 4/4 time signature is so prevalent that it is sometimes referred to as "common time" and notated with a "c" symbol, as shown.
Each time signature has a natural, characteristic pattern of stressed and unstressed beats, The first beat of each measure in any time signature receives the most stress, In 4/4 time, the third beat is also stressed, but to a lesser extent. "Jingle Bells" provides a strong example of the natural stresses that occur in 4/4 time, (The stressed beats are indicated with boldface numbers,)
3 Time
4
3/4 (or "three-four") time is also sometimes called waltz time, since this is the characteristic time signature of this
dance form. However, there are many other types of compositions that employ this time signature. In 3/4 time, the quarter note still receives its normal value, but there are only three beats in every measure.
The natural stress of 3/4 time falls on the first beat of each measure only. Sing or hum the first phrase of "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes" to get a feeling for the lilting stress of 3/4 time.
2/4 Time
2/4 time calls for only two beats in each measure with a
stress on every other beat. Richard Wagner's familiar "Wedding March" illustrates the strong and regular stress pattern of this time signature, Notice the bass clef.
time, or cut time, indicates that a half note lasts for only one beat-with two beats in each measure. 2/2 time is usually noted with this shorthand symbol (C|). This time signature makes it easier for musicians to read music with many short note values or complex rhythms. Here's the traditional fiddle tune "Turkey in the Straw" in time. Notice that the stresses fall on every other beat.
All of the time signatures we've looked at so far are called simple time signatures because they require a basic arrangement of the number of beats in each measure and the value of each beat. Compound time signatures will be discussed in a later section.
Contents: Start with Staffs
and Rhythm and Scales