Music-Meter Types

triple

three beats per measure

Time Signatures dupole

top number always two most common 2/8, 2/4, 2/2 The top number in the time signature indicates that each measure contains two beats (one strong and one weak). The bottom number indicates the note value that represents the beat

irregular

top number is 5, 7, or 11

duple

two beats per measure

counting simple duple

two quarter one two 4 eights One and Two and 8 sixteenths One e and a Two e and a

If tempo is set to same speed the the meters

will sound the same even though different values are used to represent the beat.

Septuple

2+2+3, a 2+3+2, or a 3+2+2 pattern

Quintuple

2+3 or a 3+2 beat pattern

Counting Simple Triple

3 beats ONE TWO THREE ONE and TWO and THREE and ONE e and a Two e and a THREE e and a

Types of Irregular meters

Five-four, five-eight, seven-four, and seven-eight are typical irregular meters.

4/4

Four-four is one of the most frequently used meters. For this reason it is often referred to as common time. Many people think that the letter C stands for "common time," but this symbol actually derives from medieval notational practices, using an incomplete circle to represent "imperfect time." In any case, when you see the symbol C, remember that it means 4/4 meter.

Compound duple

In compound duple meters there are two beats per measure and each beat is divided into three parts

Compound Quadruple

In compound quadruple meters there are four beats per measure and each beat is divided into three parts

Compound Triple Meter

In compound triple meters there are three beats per measure and each beat is divided into three parts

simple meter duple

In simple duple meters there are two beats per measure (duple) and each beat is divided into equal two parts.

Simple Quadruple Meter

In simple quadruple meters there are four beats per measure and each beat is divided into two parts

simple triple

In simple triple meters there are three beats per measure and each beat is divided into two parts

Counting Compound Duple

ONE TWO ONE la le TWO la le ONE ta la ta le la TWO ta la ta le ta

Counting Compound Triple

ONE TWO THREE ONE la le Two la le THREE la le ONE ta la ta le ta.............

counting Simple Quadruple

ONE TWO THREE FOUR ONE and TWO and THREE and FOUR and ONE e and a TWO e and a THREE e and a FOUR e and a

Counting Compound Quadruple

ONE TWO THREE FOUR ONE la le Two la le....... ONE ta la ta le ta........

Counting in Compound Meters

ONE la le TWO la le

Compound Duple Time Signatures

The top number in a compound duple time signature is always the number six (6). The most common compound duple time signature is 6/8

Compound Triple Time Signature

The top number in a compound triple time signature is always the number nine (9). Compound triple time signatures include 9/8, 9/16, and 9/4, with 9/8 being the most common of the three.

Time Signature Simple Double

The top number in a simple quadruple time signature is always the number four The most common time signatures for simple quadruple meter are 4/8, 4/4, and 4/2. The top number in the time signature indicates that each measure contains four beats: one strong and three weak. The third beat in quadruple meter is stronger than the second and fourth beats, but not as strong as the first beat. The bottom number indicates the note value that represents the beat

Time Signatures Triple Simple

The top number in a simple triple time signature is always the number three The most common time signatures for simple triple meter are 3/8, 3/4, and 3/2 The top number in the time signature indicates that each measure contains three beats (one strong and two weak). The bottom number indicates the note value that represents the beat.

If a piece begins with a pickup

This means that you would begin conducting with an upbeat rather than a downbeat.

conducting in Quadruple

To conduct in quadruple meter, start with your hand in a raised position, then bring it down for beat 1 (the downbeat). For beat 2, sway your hand to the left. For beat 3, swing your hand over to the right. For beat four, sway your hand back to the center and upwards to the initial position (the upbeat.) Practice this conducting pattern while counting ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR.

conducting triple

To conduct in triple meter, start with your hand in a raised position, then bring it down for beat 1 (the downbeat). For beat 2, sway your hand to the right. For beat 3, sway your hand back to the center and upwards to the initial position (the upbeat.) Practice this conducting pattern while counting ONE - TWO - THREE. You can also practice counting and conducting along with the examples that follow.

Compound time Signature

Unlike simple time signatures, which tell us directly about the beat, compound time signatures are based on the division of the beat rather than the beat itself (top tells us the number of subdivisions of the beat) In a compound meter, the number of beats per measure equals the top number of the time signature divided by three In a compound meter, the value of the beat is equal to three of the duration represented by the bottom number

Tuplets

are rhythmic groupings that divide simple beats (undotted values) into divisions other than multiples of two and compound beats (dotted values) into divisions other than multiples of three. most common triplets and duplets Tuplets also include quadruplets, quintuplets, sextuplets, and septuplets, but these larger tuplet groupings are not nearly as common.

Irregular meter

asymmetric meter, since it involves irregular combinations of twos and threes. Irregular meters are found in the folk music of many Central European and some Asian countries. They were also increasingly used by composers during the 20th century as interest in folk music grew. However, they are far less common that simple and compound meters.

double whole note

breve equal to two whole notes

2/2

cut time (or Alla Breve) Cut time is indicated by using a letter C with a vertical line going through the middle.

quadruple

four beats per measure

Duplets

is the result of dividing a beat in compound meter (a dotted note) into two rather than three equal parts. The duplet symbol is the number two ("2") written above a group of notes, sometimes combined with a bracket or a curved line. Duplets occur only in compound meter. A duplet is a group of two notes performed in the time of three notes. In other words, it is the simple division of what is normally a compound division

Triplet

is the result of dividing a beat in simple meter (an undotted note) into three rather than two parts. sometimes called borrowed division The triplet symbol is the number three ("3") written above a group of notes, sometimes combined with a bracket or a curved line. Triplets occur only in simple meter. A triplet is a group of three notes performed in the time of two notes. In other words, it is the compound division of what is normally a simple division Triplets do not affect the duration of the beat, which must remain steady.

Most common irregular meters

quintuple meter (with five beats per measure) and septuple meter (with seven beats per measure). Beaming patterns and the placement of accents (>) usually help musicians to determine which pattern is present in any given musical situation.

Types of meters

simple compound irregular

Compound Meter

the beat is divided into three equal parts the beat in compound meter is always a dotted value

compound meter

the beat is divided into three parts If the top number of a time signature is 6, 9, or 12, it is a compound meter

simple meter

the beat is divided into two parts If the top number of a time signature is 2, 3, or 4, it is a simple meter

Mixed Meter

the time signature changes frequently—sometimes every measure. In mixed meter there is no consistent beat or beat pattern.