Time Signatures

– In Notation you see usually see a Fraction which is Placed after both, The Clef and the Key Signature

– Top Number =  How many Beats are in a Measure , Bottom Number = The Note Value that is considered to be a Beat

– We use a Time Signature for easier Notation and make the Music more readable (so a 3/4 would indicate to Play in Triplet Mode)

– 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8 are known as “Compound Time” (Based on Multiples of 2 and 3)

– 5/4, 7/4, 13/8 or 11/4 for Example are “Odd Time Signatures” and Not Based on Multiples of 2 and 3 (use them when they are an Integral Part of what Makes the Music work)

– For Odd Time Signatures, Practice the more common ones as 7/8 or 5/8 to get comfortable

– Mix Time Signatures is Called “Change Of Meter”

Here we have a Measure of 3 Beats per Bar and each of these Beats gets a Quarter Note (1 Bar holds 3 x 1/4 Notes)

Here we have a Measure of 6 Beats and each of these Beats gets a Eight Note (1 Bar holds 6 x 1/8 Notes)

– Cut Time (also “Double Time”) tells the Musician to play everything Twice as Fast, means the Half Note gets the Beat (2/2 or Playing in 2)

– Half Time = One Measure is Expanded over the Course of 2 (Opposite of Cut Time)