Understanding theory
Understand time signatures There are many different ways of changing the beats of the bar through time signatures, and each has its own distinct feel and style
A
time signature will always be found at the beginning of a piece of music directly after the key signature. It is very important as it tells us exactly how to divide the beats of the bar, in turn making it so much easier to read a piece of music. There are two main types of time signature: simple time and compound time. Here’s a bit more about them.
time 4 3 Simple 6 Simple time is a signature where the main 4 4 beat is divided into two equal beats. For instance, in time, the main beat is a crotchet/ 8 2 quarter note, and this can be divided in two quavers/eighth notes. The most common 4 forms of simple time signature are , (most 4 4
4 3 4 4 2 often used in waltzes) and 4 (considered a
march beat).
“There are two main types: simple time and compound time”
Explaining time signatures What do the numbers mean and why are they important? Time signatures comprise two numbers, one on top of the other. The top number (also known as the numerator) will indicate how many beats are in a bar, the bottom number (the denominator) will tell you what type of beat it is. The most common numbers found at the bottom of a time signature are 4 (crotchet), 8 (quavers), and 16 (semiquavers).
Number of beats in the bar
4 4
Type of beat
The numbers in time can also be replaced by a symbol that looks like a C. This is called common time, but also tells us that there are 4 crotchet beats to a bar.
4 4
38 Piano for Beginners
Simple time
2 is mainly used for marches and 4 polka music. the pulse is 3 crotchet beats to 3 where a bar is essentially used for waltzes. 4 common time (C), is the most 4 orwidely used of the time signatures 4 and is used in a variety of music including pop and rock.
Compound time
most commonly found in 6 9 arevarious 8 8 types of folk music. quite common in slower blues 12 ismusic and, again, also used in 8 folk music.
.
Compound time Compound time, much like simple time, is where the main beat can be divided into three beats. The lowest number is most commonly an 8. For example, in 68 , where the main beat is a dotted crotchet/quarter note, this can be split into three quavers/ eighth notes. You’re likely to see one of these signatures in a ballad or jig.
Dots and ties Understand exactly what is meant by dots and ties A dot tells you that you add half the value of the note to its original value. For example, the dotted crotchet ( . ) is 1 + ½ =1½ beats. A tie tells you to add two note values together. For example, a crotchet plus another crotchet would be two beats and look like this: . You would most likely use a tie when you need a note to carry over into the next bar. If a minim doesn’t fit in a bar, then you can tie two crotchets on either side of the bar line.
Top
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the to stressed f the bar is usua first ll note. In time sign y a using fo a 4 u r 1 b 2 e ats in a b tures, ( 4 , ), a th r 8 e third stressed , althoug can also be h these no are not a tes lway more im s louder or portant.
