Music Theory Topic #2: Time Signatures

Music Theory Topic #2: Time Signatures

Hello Everyone,

    The second instalment of music theory topics have finally come! The first topic was about key signatures. Thank you so much for all the replies and the great conversations we had. I’d like talk this time about Time signatures.

    Ever wonder what the squiggly figure, the sharps and flats, and the numbers that are found at the beginning of every staff of music mean? We talked last time about the Sharps and last (Key signatures) last time, and this time we are going to talk about the numbers.

    Time signatures have a long history in the music of western culture. Not only have musicians throughout time strived to organize the pitches that they use in music, but also rhythms and over-all pulse of the music. Before the renaissance in Europe, 3/4, 6/8 or 9/8 etc., were the most widely used time signatures. Why? Musicians were generally found in the church or working for kings, and playing music that was structured in time signatures of “threes” was another way to honour God and to glorify Him through every aspect of life. It wasn’t until the renaissance that we find the beginnings of 4/4. In French, it is called the “Ars Nova” or “New Art”. Although 4/4 was not welcomed with open arms by everyone, we know by looking at today’s music that it eventually caught on.

    How do you read a time signature? Time signatures have two numbers; a top and bottom number. The bottom number tells us what kind of note get’s the beat. Don’t understand? Let me explain. Ever listen to music and find yourself tapping your foot to the beat? Well, the time signature tells you what kind of note you are tapping.

The rule for the bottom number is “What note value amounts to a whole note with that number?” It takes 4 quarter notes to equal a whole note; so if you are in 4/4 quarter note gets the beat! In 6/8, 8 is the bottom number; thus, 8th notes get the beat.

1 – Whole note get the beat
2 – Half note get the beat.
4- Quarter note get the beat
8- 8th note gets the beat
16- 16th note gets the beat.

    The other number is the top one. The top number tells us how many beats are in each measure. So in 4/4, there are four quarter notes in each measure. One more example; in 3/1, there are three whole notes.

    Next week I’ll talk about how time signatures are categorized, and how they have been used in the last century. Check out the time signatures in songs that you play on your dulcimer. “Green sleeves”, “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Jesus the Very Thought of Thee” are all in different time Signatures (You can find these tabs on my sheet music page). Do you strum differently each one? How do they feel differently? I will talk about these subjects on next week’s blog.

-Ben