Time Signatures

Time Signatures

​What do they mean, and what do they do?

Multiple Choice

What does a time signature tell us?

• Beats per measure and what note represents one beat

• How loud or soft to sing the song

• The speed (tempo) of the song

• How long it should take us to perform the song

It is important to look at the time signature any time you start a new piece of music!

The time signature provides us with important information regarding how to count the music we are about to learn.

Fill in the Blanks

The top number tells us how many

there are in a measure.

Fill in the Blanks

The bottom number tells us what

gets the beat.

What note does each number go with?

Bottom numbers pair up with a single note

While the top number can be pretty much whatever the composer chooses, there are a limited number of options for the bottom number. This is because each number corresponds with a single note, and only a few are commonly used (and accepted) amongst composers and musicians.

Draw

This note goes with a "2" on the bottom of a time signature.

Draw

This note goes with a "4" on the bottom of a time signature.

Draw

This note goes with an "8" on the bottom of a time signature.

LEt's look at some time signatures and see how you do!

Poll

How many beats are in each measure of this time signature?

• 3

• 8

• 6

• 2

Poll

What note is getting the beat?

Poll

What note is getting the beat?

Poll

How many beats are in each measure of this key signature?

• 4

• 3

• 2

• 1

Poll

How many beats are in each measure of this key signature?

• 4

• 3

• 8

• 12

Poll

What note is getting the beat?

Word Cloud

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of how time signatures work. Give me 1 to 2 words to describe your understanding of this concept.