Simple and Compound Time

Lesson 2/76 | Study Time: 5 Min
Simple and Compound Time

Simple and Compound Time

Time signatures fall into two basic categories – simple time and compound time. Simple time is any time signature where the basic beat is divisible by two. E.g. in *, ^, and % the basic beat is a quarter note which may be divided in half to become two eighth notes per beat. Any time signature where the basic beat is divisible by three is called compound time. The most common example of compound time is six eight time ()). Other examples of compound time would be _, and +. In compound time, the basic beat is felt as a dotted quarter note which can be divided by three.

Peter Gelling

Peter Gelling

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