Simple and Compound Time

Time signatures

Time signatures occur at the beginning of every line of a piece of music.

They tell you how many beats there are in a bar, and what type of beat it is.

The top number tells us how many beats there are in the bar

The bottom number tells us what type of beat it is

Note values

2 = minim 4 = crotchet 8 = quaver

Common Time

The time signature 4/4 is often referred to as ‘common time’ and can also be written using the letter C

The time signature 2/2 is also known as ‘cut common time’ and is shown by a C cut in half

Simple Time

Most key signatures in music are in ‘simple time’, where each beat is counted as one.

For example, in 3/4 time there are 3 crotchet beats.

In 2/2 time, there are 2 minim beats.

Compound Time

In compound time, each beat is a dotted note.

For example, although 6/8 time has six quaver beats in the bar, the beat is given by two dotted crotchets.

As a result, in compound time the number of beats is always devisable by 3.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_of_music/rhythm_metre5.shtml

Writing in Simple and Compound Time

In 3/4 time, notes are grouped to show three crotchet beats.

In 6/8 time, notes are grouped to

show two dotted crotchet beats.

Listening Examples

Listen to the following pieces of music and answer the following questions.

1.What is their time signature?2. Are they in simple or common time?

Listening Examples

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on1DDSLdDOo2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdzQ8eFlMdI3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNrmYRiX_o4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmwRQqJsegw5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJcoaIeH3GI6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AlEvy0fJto7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX07j9SDFcc8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-JAP7Kf1cI9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xuMwfUqJJM