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TRANSCRIPT
What are measures?
Most music is divided into measures. Measures are equal-length sections of music separated by bar lines.
What are time signatures?
Each measure holds a certain amount of beats. At the beginning of a music piece, there is oftentimes a time signature to identify how many beats are in each measure, and which notes receive 1 beat.
Interpreting a Time Signature
By interpreting time signatures, we can figure out how many beats are found in each measure, as well as which type of note receives 1 beat. The ability to interpret time signatures can really come in handy when reading music!
Interpreting a Time Signature
A time signature is set up like this:
There is one number on the top… …and another number on the bottom. These numbers are separated by a horizontal line.
But what do these numbers mean?
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Interpreting a Time Signature
The top number indicates the number of beats per measure.
The bottom number indicates which note receives 1 beat.
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Numbers to Indicate Notes
The bottom number in a time signature indicates which notes receive 1 beat.
A 4 on the bottom means that a quarter note receives 1 beat.
A 2 on the bottom means that a half note receives 1 beat.
An 8 on the bottom means that an eighth note receives 1 beat.
Interpreting a Time Signature
So, if you were to interpret this time signature, you would find this:
Each measure has 4 beats.
Each quarter note receives a beat.
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Common Time Signatures
Here are some time signatures commonly found in music:
There are others as well, but these are the ones most commonly used.
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34
22
38
68
Review
Answer the following questions.
What is a measure?
A measure is a section of music indicated and divided by bar lines.
What is a time signature (how is it used)?
A time signature indicates how many beats are in each measure as well as which type of notes receives 1 beat.
Practice
Interpret the following time signatures:
There are 4 beats per measure.
A quarter note receives 1 beat.
44
Practice
Interpret the following time signatures:
There are 3 beats per measure.
A quarter note receives 1 beat.
34
Practice
Interpret the following time signatures:
There are 2 beats per measure.
A half note receives 1 beat.
22
Practice
Interpret the following time signatures:
There are 6 beats per measure.
An eighth note receives 1 beat.
68
Practice
Interpret the following time signatures:
There are 9 beats per measure.
An eighth note receives 1 beat.
98