Welcome to Time Signatures!
These will be your road maps that will help guide you along the path to success in music!
WARNING: Do not ever try to rush or slow down the tempo! YOU WILL DIE
Simple time signatures consist of two numerals, one stacked above the other:
- the lower numeral indicates the note value which represents one beat (the "beat unit");
- the upper numeral indicates how many such beats there are in a bar.
, is sometimes used for 44 time, also called common time or imperfect time
is used for 2/2 time—more precisely, a doubling of the speed, or proportio dupla, in duple meter.(Also called "cut time" or "cut common time".)
Example: 4/4 would mean that there are four beats in the measure and the quarter note gets the beat (in other words it means that the quarter note is worth one beat.)
How to count:
4/4 = 1+2+3+4
2/4= 1+2
4/2+ 1+2+3+4 (in this one, the numbers are half notes and the +'s are quarter notes)
2/2= 1+
1/1= 1+
