MGW 4-1 [Compound Meters-Counting]

Compound Meters

notes divide into three eighth notes

Most Common Bottom Number of Compound Meter Signature

8

What does it mean when the bottom number of the time signature is 8?

We are counting eighth notes

What does the top number of the time signature in compound meters mean?

How many eighth notes we are counting

What are the three possible top numbers in Compound Meter?

6, 9, 12

How many beats in 6/8?

 2 Beats

How many beats in 9/8?

3 Beats

How many beats in 12/8?

4 Beats

There are two other possible bottom numbers for Compound Meter Signatures, what are they?

4, 16

Compound Meter Signature:
Bottom Number is 4;
what gets the beat?

Dotted Half Note

Compound Meter Signature:
Bottom Number is 16;
what gets the beat?

Dotted Eighth Note

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 6/8

2, dotted quarter

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 9/8

3, dotted quarter

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 12/8

4, dotted quarter

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 6/4

2, dotted half

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 9/4

3, dotted half

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 12/4

4, dotted half

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 6/16

2, dotted eighth

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 9/16

3, dotted eighth

What gets the beat and how many beats per measure: 12/16

4, dotted eighth

Pick-Up Measure

the starting measure is incomplete. The final measure has the number of beats that were missing from the first measure

What measure number is the pick-up measure?

Measure 0; we do not count it

Counting System for Eighth Notes in Compound Meters

1 la li, 2 la li, 3 la li, etc.