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Time signatures
A time signature is a symbol written at the beginning of a piece of music to show
the number of beats in each bar and their note values. Time signatures are made
of two numbers, one on top of the other. The top number shows the number of
beats to be counted in each bar; for example, if the top number is two, each bar
contains two beats. The bottom number shows the note that has the value of one
beat in each bar; for example, if the bottom number is four, the crotchet will have
the value of one beat in each bar. Figure 2.15 shows top and bottom numbers in
a time signature.
Top number
Bottom number
Figure 2.15: Top and bottom numbers in a time signature
There are many time signatures which result from different combinations of
top and bottom numbers. They can be grouped into simple and compound time
signatures. At this level, you will learn simple time signatures shown in figures
2.16, 2.17 and 2.18.
(a) A two-four time signature: This means there are two crotchet beats in a
bar. See the example in Figure 2.16.
Figure 2.16: A rhythm in two-four time
(b) A three-four time signature: This means there are three crotchet beats in a
bar. See the example in Figure 2.17.
Figure 2.17: A rhythm in three-four time
(c) A four-four time signature: This means there are four crotchet beats in a
bar. See the example in Figure 2.18.
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MUSIC 2023 mpya FINAL.indd 20 18/10/2024 13:23
