Simple and Compound Time
Time signatures fall into two basic categories – simple time and compound time. Any time signature in which the basic beat is divisible by two is in simple time. For example, 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 in which the basic beat is divisible by three is in compound time. The most common example of compound time is six eight time ( ) ). Other examples are _ and +. In compound time, the basic beat is felt as a dotted quarter note which can be divided by three.
The Six Eight Time Signature
This is the six eight time signature. There are six eighth notes in one bar of ) time. The six eighth notes are divided into two groups of three.
When playing ) time there are two beats within each bar, with each beat being a dotted quarter note. Note that this is different from * and ^ time, where each beat is a quarter note. Accent (play louder) the 1 and 4 count to help establish the two beats per bar. This example in ) time contains some typical note groupings.
The Eighth Note Triplet
Eighth note triplets are a group of three evenly spaced notes played within one beat.
Eighth note triplets are indicated by three eighth notes grouped together by a bracket (or a curved line) and the number K written either above or below the group.
The eighth note triplets are played with a third of a beat each. To help you keep time, accent (play louder) the first note of each triplet group, count out loud and remember to use your metronome.
This piece is in % time, only two quarter notes to each bar, with triplets in the second half.
