3/4 & 4/4 Time Signatures In Music: What They Are & How They Work

by

Duane Shinn

Time signatures (placed on a musical staff along with key signatures) are used to specify how many beats are in a measure (each and every measure of a piece of written music) and what time value is given to each note. Time signatures, in their simple form, are represented by two numbers displayed as a mathematical fraction. The upper number indicates how many beats there are in a bar (measure). The lower number indicates the note value which represents one beat (one count).

So, the time signature 3/4 means that there are three beats to a measure and a quarter note receives one beat. 4/4 time means that there are four beats to a measure and a quarter note receives one beat. Although not as commonly seen, 5/4 follows the same rules with five beats to a measure and a quarter note receiving one beat (the theme from Mission Impossible and the jazz standard, Take Five are in 5/4/ time). Taking this further, 6/8 time means that there are six beats to a measure and an eighth note receives one beat, where 3/8 time means there are three beats to a measure and an eighth note receives one beat.

Unusual time signatures like 9/8 and 7/4 are sometimes seen. Some musicians and composers like to use unusual time signatures such as these to create fresh and intriguing music. The music played (in 9/8, for example) may sound a bit odd and hard to follow but when well done, can be quite interesting. 4/4 time is sometimes called common time where as cut time is defined as the values being cut in half (4/4 time played as cut time would be counted as 2/2 time).To play in cut time, the musician must halve the values of each note, rest, and measure.

A compound time signature is divided into three equal parts rather than two. This presents a problem when writing notation as a dotted note cannot be represented by a number (like the 4 in 4/4 time). To solve this problem, the time signature itself (on the musical staff) includes a dot to indicate the proper time.

Here are time signatures and the kind of music they would likely be used.

3/4 time: waltzes, and some Country ballads.

2/4 time: marches and polkas

4/4 time: widely used

6/8 time: jigs,

12/8 time: 50s type doo-wop and stroll music

9/8 time: sometimes found in Central and South American music

It is somewhat unusual to find more than one time signature is the same composition but there examples in all types or music. Music written for a Broadway play, for example, my require more then one time signature in a piece to accommodate dancers and other goings on with the on-stage performers. You may also find numerous time signatures in a single piece written for a symphony.

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