Time Signatures — Simple and Compound Time
The time signatures you have so far studied, *, ^ and % are all examples of what is called simple time. Simple time occurs when the beat falls on undotted notes (quarter notes, half notes, eighth notes, etc.) and thus every beat is divisible by two. In * time the basic beat is a quarter note, which can be split into two thus:
Quarter Note
Eighth Note
Sixteenth Note
In simple time signatures the top number indicates the number of beats per bar while the bottom number indicates the type of note receiving one beat:
The top number represents 4/1, which indicates the number of beats per bar (4).
The bottom number represents 1/4, which indicates that the beats are quarter notes (or crotchets).
A beat can also occur on a dotted note, making it divisible into groups of three. This is called compound time.
Quarter Note
Eighth Note
Sixteenth Note
The most common example of compound time is ). The interpretation of this time signature is different from those of simple time. ) does not represent six eighth note beats per bar, but rather, it represents two dotted quarter note beats per bar.
This is calculated by dividing the top number by three, to get the number of beats per bar; and by dividing the bottom number by two, to get the type of dotted note receiving one beat:
The top number, divided by three, gives two beats per bar. (6 / 3 = 2).
The bottom number, divided by two, gives a dotted quarter note beat. (8 / 2 = 4).
The result is a different rhythm feel between simple and compound time. Compare ^ to ), where they can both contain six eighth notes in a bar:
In ) time it is most convenient to count in groups of six, accenting the "1" and "4" counts (where the beat occurs). When counting this way, each eighth note is worth one count and each quarter note is worth two counts. Check the count below the following exercises:
This version, in the key of B minor, is in ) time. Be sure to follow the count carefully.
