Measures & Time SignaturesBrought to you by powerpointpros.com

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?

44

Interpreting a Time Signature

The top number indicates the number of beats per measure.

The bottom number indicates which note receives 1 beat.

44

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.

44

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.

44

34

22

38

68

Review/ Practice

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

Congratulations!

You are now experts at measures and time signatures!