The Time Signature tells us how big or small each measure (container) is. The time signature has two numbers stacked on each other, and each number tells us something important about how the music is written.
- The top number of the time signature tells us how many beats are in a measure.
- The bottom number of a time signature tells us which symbol to draw the beat with. Think back to the types of symbols and how many pieces we cut the pizza into — that number is what the bottom number would be.
- The other way to think about it would be to say the time signature as if it were a fraction. The second word you said is usually the kind of note that gets one beat.
The most common time signature has a 4 on the top and the bottom. This time signature is so common that musicians even call it Common Time!
- The 4 on top tells us there are FOUR beats in a measure.
- The 4 on the bottom tells us the QUARTER NOTE/REST = 1 BEAT.
What would it mean if the time signature were 3/4 instead? What about 7/8, or 5/2, or even 268/4?
Now that we know how music moves “vertically” (pitches and harmony) as well as how it moves “horizontally” (rhythm and melody), we can learn about the specific qualities that musicians and composers can change to make music sound different.
