Time Signatures

Which numbers are equal to the time signature we refer to as "common time"?

• 
• 
• 
• 

What does the top number of a time signature tell us?

• How old the music is

• Which kind of note is equal to 1 beat

• How many notes are in each measure

• How many beats are in each measure

Why does Gregorian chant not have a time signature?

• They felt lazy

• They ran out of ink on their feather quill

• They weren't invented yet

• They were so clever they didn't need them

How would you classify the following time signature:

• Simple compound

• Compound double

• Simple quadruple

• Compound duple

How do we know which time signatures are simple and which are compound?

• It's when the top number can be divided by 4

• It's whatever we decide it is

• It's when top number can be divided by 3, except for 9

• It's when the top number can be divided by 3, except for 3

What does the bottom number in the following time signature tell us?

• The whole note is equal to 1 beat

• The 16th note is equal to 1 beat

• This time signature doesn't exist

• It's another way to write "cut time"

What is the difference between "cut time" and "common time"?

• There isn't a difference

• The inventor of cut time's pen slipped, creating the slash in the middle of the "c"

• Cut time is related to half notes and common time is related to quarter notes

• Cut time is Italian, common time is French

How can we divide the following time signature into pulses that are easier to keep track of?

• 12 eighth notes

• 12 quarter notes

• 4 pulses, each worth 3 eighth notes

• 3 pulses, each worth 4 eighth notes

Tell me another way to verbalize "cut time"

• 4 quarter notes in each measure

• 3 half notes in each measure

• 2 half notes in each measure

• 9 eighth notes in each measure

Using your best educated guess, what do you think the most appropriate time signature is for this measure of music?

• 8/8

• 2.5/8

• common time

• cut time