Time signature

What does time signatures tell you? 

–A way to notate the meter/feeling of the music

–Tells you how many beats are in a measure

What does the top number tell you? 

How many beats there are in each bar/measure

What does the bottom number tell you? 

The type of beat

What kind of note get one beat

What are the common time signatures? 

Most common time signatures:

•4/4 – also called *common time*

•3/4 – also sometimes called *waltz time*

•2/4

•6/8

What are the irregular time signatures? 

Irregular time signatures:

•5/4

•7/8

•Cannot be divided into equal groups