Time Signatures

Time Signatures

by Katherine Day

​Measuring Time in Music

​When reading music, you will notice after the clef and key signature, there are two numbers that look like a fraction.

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​After this, the music is carved up by a series of vertical lines, called bar lines:

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​Measuring Time in Music

​The fraction - known as a time signature - tells you how many and what type of beats to count between each upright line.

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​The top number tells you how many beats per bar. 

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​These examples show: 6, 4 and 9 beats per bar.

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​Measuring Time in Music

The bottom number tells you the type of beat used. 

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​In the early grades:

​When there is a 4 on the bottom, we count in quarter/crotchet beats.

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​When there is an 8 on the bottom, we count in eighth/quaver beats or in dotted crotchet beats - this is a bit tricky, but you get used to it.

​Measuring Time in Music

​When there is a 2 on the bottom, we count in half/minim beats.

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​When there is an 16 on the bottom, we count in sixteenth/semiquaver beats or in dotted quaver beats - this is a bit tricky, but you get used to it.

Multiple Choice

How many beats per bar

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

How many beats per bar

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

How many beats per bar

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

How many beats per bar

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

How many beats per bar

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 6

• 9

Multiple Choice

What type of beat used

• quaver

• crotchet

• minim

Multiple Choice

What type of beats used

• quaver

• crotchet

• minim

Multiple Choice

What type of beat used

• quaver

• crotchet

• minim

• 6

• 9

​You have to be really good at adding up note values

​In 4/4, you can have any number of notes and rests provided they add up to 4 crotchet beats.

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​In a Music Craft exam, you have to be able to:

• ​put in bar lines

• ​choose the correct time signature

• ​beam notes properly

Multiple Select

Select the errors that apply to this picture:

• five beats in bar 2

• two beats in bar 1

• three beats in bar 4

• 4 beats in bar 3

Multiple Select

Select the errors that apply to this picture:

• five beats in bar 2

• two beats in bar 1

• three beats in bar 4

• 4 beats in bar 3