Questions tagged [time-signatures]
Numeric ratio indicating the subdivision of measures according to groups of beats.
436
questions
1
vote
4
answers
102
views
On the difference between 4/4 and 4/2 time signatures [duplicate]
I am new to music theory and I was going through this video on YouTube to understand time signatures. The author mentions that the top number indicates number of beats. I understand what this means. ...
- 11
5
votes
3
answers
406
views
Can't understand 16th notes connected by beams [duplicate]
The following section (mm. 49–52) is from "Metamorphosis II" by Philip Glass with 4/4 signature.
I don't understand how beats are adding up:
There are 4x6 16th notes in each G clef measure, ...
- 153
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Notation question: Adding half a beat to a bar?
I've run into a quirk in a piece I'm writing, something I've never had to deal with—any ideas?:
The piece is in 4/4. One bar has an extra half-beat (with 18 sixteenth notes rather than 16).
4.5/4 = 9/...
- 211
7
votes
4
answers
147
views
Drumming: Where do backbeats/snares go in 2/2 time
In the vast majority of modern popular 4/4 music involving drum kits (jazz, hip hop, rock, country, etc.) the snare hits (or equivalent 'pat' noise) occur on the backbeats (2 and 4). Of course, like ...
- 240
3
votes
1
answer
129
views
Placing rest symbols according the convention of the time signature
I am preparing for a music school entry exam and I am given following problem:
"In the following example, place the missing rest symbols in the brackets. It's possible, that you have to write ...
- 151
7
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Norwegian Wood, no consensus of rhythm and feel?
I have seen many different song sheets for the Beatles Song Norwegian Wood using time signatures of 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8. My question is, why are they all different, why is there no consensus? What I ...
- 290
5
votes
3
answers
806
views
Is the meter of this bar 3/4 or 6/8? [duplicate]
Sorry if this is a really basic question but I'm really confused about the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 and was hoping to get some explanation about this bar in particular:
This bar can be read ...
- 51
4
votes
3
answers
329
views
Where to put the bar lines in free measure music?
My guess is to put the bar lines where aesthetically a phrase ends and another begins, but it seems completely abstract and I want to be precise.
The phrases of the piece that I'm writing are of ...
- 115
2
votes
2
answers
59
views
How do I interpret note lengths in this song? [duplicate]
I've only just recently begun learning the basics of time signatures and counting beats, and I'm having trouble applying what I've learned to real sheet music. Consider the second measure in this ...
- 131
5
votes
1
answer
258
views
What symbol is used to go from common time to half time?
What symbol do I use to go from common time to half time when notating that particular change?
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is it proper to change time signature for one measure?
I am trying to write down some music that I've made and I have this problem: some parts require a change in time signature in order the phrase to fit, just for one or two measures. It can go from 4/4 ...
- 115
8
votes
4
answers
914
views
Gnossiennes and Free Time
I'm looking at Erik Satie's Gnossiennes, specifically Nos. 1-3, but for simplicity let's just consider Gnossienne No. 1.
Most editions (see IMSLP) are engraved without a time signature nor with any ...
- 8,190
7
votes
3
answers
593
views
Eliminate ties via additive meter?
I'm making a piano arrange of 裸の勇者.
Many times, I put ties in the middle of the bar:
These ties are noisy; I'd like to remove them. But I placed them there in the belief that they're required for ...
- 255
6
votes
5
answers
234
views
Notes not adding up to time signature How to play this?
Hi, any idea how to play this piece? The note on the last beats are not adding up to 6/8.
- 61
4
votes
1
answer
91
views
How would I write 5 eighth notes (as one note, and ties are ok) in 6/4 time signature?
I'm not sure if i should write it as an eight note tied to a dotted eight note, or maybe a half note tied to a 16th note or what I don't know.
- 41
8
votes
5
answers
709
views
How are beats divided in simple/compound/odd meters supposed to sound different?
This is a question somewhat difficult to explain, in music theory it is said that simple, compound and odd meters subdivide into beats that are grouped into 2s for simple, 3s for compound and 2s 3s or ...
- 143
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
What note would be used to fit 4 notes in a 5/8 time signature
What note represents 1.25 beats. Or in other words 4 notes in 5/8 time.
- 23
7
votes
1
answer
177
views
Two Time Signatures: Bach Prelude in D Major BWV 874 [duplicate]
I'm currently learning Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D Major, No. 5 WTC 2, BWV 874. At the beginning of the prelude, there are two time signatures given - cut time (2/2) and a 12/8 time signature.
I ...
- 71
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why does this time signature have addition?
I found this piece of music that has an odd time signature. I unfortunately do not have the music with me, but the time signature looks like this:
2+2+3+2
8
I have been playing this as 9/8, but am ...
1
vote
2
answers
177
views
Would this bass line be heard as 5/4 or 4/4?
Assuming no other instruments (such as drums, in particular) are providing any clues about the time signature, would the following bass line be heard by people as 5/4 or 4/4 (all quarter notes, all ...
2
votes
3
answers
43
views
tempo of fantasia in D-minor from Mozart
Fantasia in D-Minor from Mozart K397 is written in 2/2 (alla breve). The first part of it should be played Andante (let's say 80 half notes in one minute). In reality, it is played much much slower ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
103
views
Time signature and Tempo
When I am jamming along a song, I do get carried away especially after the chorus when strumming is emphasised. I tend to speed up. You see in intro strumming is kinda not so much emphasised, it's ...
3
votes
3
answers
169
views
Why is the second movement to Beethoven's 9th notated in fast 3/4, rather than in 3/8?
Looking at the score for Beethoven's 9th symphony, it surprises me how the second movement is written in a breakneck 3/4 at 116 dotted half notes per minute.
Why did Beethoven opt for this 3/4, rather ...
- 131
4
votes
2
answers
224
views
Writing notes without knowing their duration - can it be done in Musink Lite?
Today my classmates put me onto Musink Lite. If I understand well, the idea is that it somehow 'knows' how long your notes should be, so it becomes one click per note.
I like it, but as a newbie I don'...
- 53
3
votes
3
answers
188
views
How can you tell the difference between 3/4 time and 6/8 time? Or 3/2 time and 6/4 time?
When given any sheet of music without the time signature and you are given the choice of 3/4 and 6/8, how would you know which one would be the appropriate choice?
- 31
7
votes
2
answers
263
views
Do I have to notate "eighth equal quarter" when the time signature changes?
I cannot recall which tempo marking I saw but it is something like "♩=♪" or "♩=♩."on the top of the staff when time signature changes. Does that mean the overall speed doesn't ...
- 159
0
votes
1
answer
114
views
The Actual Purpose of the Bottom Number in Time Signatures [duplicate]
I understand that 4/4 time signatures mean that there are 4 beats per measure, and that those beats are quarter notes. However this is the point where I get confused as I’ve listened to and have seen ...
- 743
2
votes
2
answers
136
views
How to determine whether song is 16 bar blues or 32 bar form?
I'm analyzing blues in the Mississippi Delta tradition and the hardest/most subjective aspect I am running into has to do with songs with measure numbers divisible by 8. For example, we can use "...
- 23
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Strumming along low BPM song
I am fairly comfortable strumming along a song with 80 or more BPM, however for songs lower that I struggle to keep up. How should I practice?
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What time signature should I use with partial triplets?
Say I have six groupings of eighth note triplets, 18 total notes. I want to play 16 eighth note triplets, leave off the last two notes ("partial triplet"), and repeat the section.
To my ear, ...
- 173
0
votes
3
answers
231
views
How to calculate music sheet symbols duration, in Midi file
I want to make music in computer programming language.
but I don't know how to calculate music sheet symbols duration by attention to tempo and time signature.
I was confused about that because ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
140
views
Is "24th note" a valid denotation of 16th note triplets?
The sequencers I own allow for quantized 16th note triplet input by selecting 1/24 as the note length. Some of my sequencers also allow for time signatures with 24 as the bottom number. This is ...
- 453
0
votes
2
answers
84
views
How to figure out time signature of complex type
Here according to me the left side time signature is 9/8 and the right side is 4/4. Am I going down the right path or are my thoughts wrong ?
1
vote
2
answers
118
views
Identifying complex time signature [closed]
Here from the given notes, I think this is a 6/4 time signature. But I am very confused due to the rest and the note placement. Any suggestions or directions would be appreciated.
QUESTION EDIT
So ...
- 61
19
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Is 41/16 a proper time signature?
I know nothing about music theory so please forgive my terminology.
I made a pattern that I've counted off as having 41 16th notes. I'm counting 1-e-and-a-2-e-and-a...etc and the pattern ends on ......
- 453
-1
votes
1
answer
87
views
Completing s 3/8 time signature [closed]
I am trying to figure out the incomplete rests. I think for the first bar line there will be the eighth rest. I am not too sure about the next one but I think it will be 2 * eighth rest. Any hints or ...
- 61
0
votes
2
answers
121
views
Adding missing rests to 9/8 meter
I am trying to figure out the missing rests in the time signature. I think for the first bar there will be a dotted quarter rest. I am not too sure about the next one. Any hints or directions ...
- 61
2
votes
3
answers
583
views
Is it possible to calculate a bar based on song BPM and time position in the song? [duplicate]
I'm using a spreadsheet to analyze song arrangements. I know the BPM of the song.
I'd like to just listen to the song, and then input the time where I'd like to make a note (say 1:50 or 90 seconds) ...
- 123
2
votes
4
answers
188
views
How can I notate this better in 12/8 time?
Can I write tied notes instead of half notes? tied dotted quarter + an eighth note? If not how can I write this better?
- 83
4
votes
2
answers
272
views
Rewriting a measure in 6/8
How can I rewrite this? What I did wasn't right, so I was wondering if there was another way to rewrite it. It's in 6/8.
- 135
2
votes
2
answers
182
views
Ignored rest at the beginning of a section
I'm entering some fiddle music into Guitar Pro 7.5 and trying to handle a second section.
At the beginning of the second section, the bar is short (only two eighth notes) just like an anacrusis, but ...
- 233
-1
votes
1
answer
214
views
Uncommon Time Signatures
I'm trying to learn about time signatures.
I'm pretty sure I've correctly identified the "colored" ones in the attached image,
but cannot find any info on the web on the non-colored ones.
...
- 151
1
vote
2
answers
77
views
Is this grouping with duplets correct for 6/4?
Very sorry for bad photo quality, but I hope the notes are visible.
Here, have I done anything wrong with the grouping?!
- 340
0
votes
1
answer
91
views
Practical steps to "play in 2/4"?
Playing a sax piece written in 4/4 at 120 bpm
I was told it would sound better in 2/4
sound smoother
the "longer beat would sound better" and make it easier for me to up the tempo.
But I ...
- 1
3
votes
3
answers
193
views
A problem with understanding Time signature
I'm not pretty good when doing aural analysis, but I can't seem to get the hang of time signature. My teacher said 4/4 is the most common time signature, and I could take a big gamble in writing 4/4 ...
8
votes
6
answers
2k
views
What decides the grouping and emphasis for 6/4?
In every example of 6/4 time I see:
the six beats are grouped into two groups of three
an emphasis is given to the first beat of each group, so there are effectively two accents per measure.
What ...
- 262
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
Derive tempo value from the unit pattern length
A guitar instrumental music was played with 4/4 timing and tempo of 86 bpm settings. One pattern consist of 6 notes ( or beats). On audacity, a unit strumming pattern ( = 1 bar) takes roughly 2.78sec....
- 201
6
votes
4
answers
980
views
Grouping three quarter notes in 6/8 time signature
I'm writing a piece of music in 6/8 time signature. Is it correct to have a bar with 3 quarter notes in this time signature?
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
I'm not sure if I'm executing these instructions on piano time signature correctly
I'm learning piano on my own and I'm using a workbook (Ben Dunnett). Below is the link to my interpretation of what this task is asking (video on YouTube). I know I've played this in common time as I'...
- 71
3
votes
2
answers
74
views
Messiaen prelude 7 - bar 4 - how to count
In bar 4 of Messiaen's Prelude 7 Plainte Calm, the time signature changes to 3/4. However, the notes at the treble clef dont add up.
The first eighth note is followed by 2 quarter notes, and this ...
- 33