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. 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 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 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. Here is an example in ) time which contains some typical note groupings.
Rhythm Pattern
Suggested Rhythm Pattern
This traditional American song is in ) time and is in the key of A minor. It contains a G# note in bar 14 which comes from the A harmonic minor scale.
This song dates back to the American Civil War. It is in ) time and in the key of A minor. The suggested rhythm for this song is a half note strum pattern which lasts for the whole six beats of the bar. In bars 13 and 14 you will need to strum twice per bar because there are two chords in these bars. This requires the use of two dotted quarter note strums. Since a dot placed after a note or strum extends its value by half, the dotted quarter note strum lasts for the same time as three eighth notes. This means that two dotted quarter note strums fit in exactly with the two dotted quarter note beats in one bar of ) time.
Rhythm Pattern
Rhythm Pattern
