Time Signatures
Two numbers that look like a fraction and are not. The top one counts the beats in a bar and the bottom one says which note value counts as a beat. What you actually hear is where the accent falls, and that is easier to learn by ear than by arithmetic.
- beats per bar
- which note is a beat
- where the accent falls
which styles use it
- Classical
- Rock & folk
- Prog
- Jazz
In short
The top number tells you how many beats are in a bar. The bottom number tells you which note value gets one beat: a four means a quarter note, an eight means an eighth note. Four four means four quarter note beats per bar and covers most popular music. Three four gives you a waltz. Six eight groups six eighth notes into two big beats of three, which is why it rolls instead of marching.
Meter is felt rather than counted. Once you can feel where a bar restarts you have the time signature, whether or not you could write it down.
How to count it
- Listen for the restart
The strongest accent is beat one. Count from there until the accent comes round again.
- Watch for the subdivision
Whether the beats split into two or into three is what separates four four from six eight, and it is a much bigger difference than the numbers suggest.
- Odd meters are groups, not maths
Seven eight is almost never counted to seven. It is counted as three plus two plus two, or some other grouping the music makes obvious.
Where you run into this
- In folk and classical music, where three four and six eight are everywhere.
- In prog and math rock, where odd meters are part of the style.
- In any track that feels off balance in a way you cannot name.
Our own examples
One phrase played in four four, three four, six eight and seven eight. The notes stay as close as possible each time, so the only thing you are judging is the grouping.