Time Signatures
At the beginning of each piece of music, after the treble clef, is the time signature.
The top number indicates the number of beats per bar (in this case four). The bottom number indicates the type of note receiving each beat (in this case a quarter note).
Thus in * time there must be the equivalent of four quarter note beats per bar, e.g.:
* is the most common time signature and is sometimes represented by common time symbol.
Most Rock/Pop songs are in * time.
Some other common time signatures are ^, % and ), which are demonstrated here.
^ indicates 3 quarter note beats per bar. A dot after a note indicates that the note is to be held for one and a half times its usual count, so the dotted half note in bar 1 is held for three beats.
% indicates 2 quarter note beats per bar, e.g.:
) time indicates 2 dotted quarter note beats per bar, which can be divided into two groups of eighth notes.
