Lesson 8: Time Signatures

Lesson 8: Time Signatures

by Tavia Zerman

At the beginning of every piece of music there is a time signature.​

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• ​Here are some common examples.

• ​Notice, there are two numbers, one placed above the other.

• ​To say these out loud, you say the top number and then the bottom number.

• ​The first one is four-four time, the second is three-four time, and the last one is two-four time.

The TOP number tells us the number of beats in each measure.​

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​Two-four time will have 2 beats in a measure.

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​Three-four time will have 3 beats in a measure.

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​Four-four time will have 4 beats in a measure.

The BOTTOM number tells us what kind of note gets one beat.​

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• All of the time signatures we have looked at have a 4 on the bottom.

• ​This means that a quarter note will get one beat.

​To put it all together...

• ​4/4 time will have four quarter notes.

• ​3/4 time will have three quarter notes.

• ​2/4 time will have two quarter notes.

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

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Multiple Choice

What kind of note gets one beat in this time signature?

• Whole note

• Half note

• Quarter note

• Eighth note

Multiple Choice

What kind of note gets one beat in this time signature?

• Whole note

• Half note

• Quarter note

• Eighth note

Multiple Choice

What kind of note gets one beat in this time signature?

• Whole note

• Half note

• Quarter note

• Eighth note