Time signature
Contents |
Definition
A time signature defines the beat structure of the rhytm, in units called bars.
In notation, a time signature is usually represented by numbers: the upper whole number representing the number of beats per bar, the lower number is 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 etcetera, and represents the 1-beat note.
Binary and ternary time signatures
A time signature consists of a number of beats, but each beat consists of a subdivision in a number of partial beats: usually subdivided in 2 (binary) or 3 (ternary) (one level deeper, each of these subdivisions in their turn can be binary or ternary). This leads to the following tables of basic time signatures.
Binary time signatures
![<p>\version "2.12.2"
<<
\new Staff
</p>
<pre>\with {
\override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3
}
\relative c' {
\clef percussion
\numericTimeSignature
\time 3/4
a a a a8[ a] [a a] a[ a] a2.
\bar "|."
}
</pre>
<p>>>](/images/math/5cbe771e8817dcda6a3b3e49f0bb8e43.png)
![<p>\version "2.12.2"
<<
\new Staff
</p>
<pre>\with {
\override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3
}
\relative c' {
\clef percussion
\numericTimeSignature
\time 4/4
a2 a4 a a8[ a] [a a] a[ a] a[ a] a1
\bar "|."
}
</pre>
<p>>>](/images/math/80d049e34e864bc772031c7132e57d47.png)
The interpretation of ternary time signatures may vary in different world music traditions, e.g. 9\8 in turkish music is not divided in 3+3+3 but in 2+2+2+3.
The table below shows the standard ternary divisions in equal groups of 3 partial beats, as is customary in contemporary classical notation.
Ternary time signatures
Notation with various 1-beat notes
The examples are collected for a theoretical purpose: to show how one rhythm can be notated with different note values.
All these examples notate the exact same rhythm, but with the help of different notes.
Note: Normally a rhythm like this would rather be notated in either 4\4 or 4\8, depending on the tempo, for purely practical reasons of performance.
- In 4\1
- In 4\2
- In 4\4
- In 4\8
- In 4\16
![\version "2.12.2"
<<
\new Staff
</p>
<pre>\with {
\override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3
}
\relative c' {
\clef percussion
\time 4/16
e4 a,8[ a] a16 a a e' a,4
\bar "|."
}
\addlyrics {
}
</pre>
<p>>>](/images/math/c01d2e2902863c63d4bfd67e1bbe4a91.png)
- In 4\32
![\version "2.12.2"
<<
\new Staff
</p>
<pre>\with {
\override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3
}
\relative c' {
\clef percussion
\time 4/32
e8 a,16[ a] a32[ a] a[ e'] a,8
\bar "|."
}
\addlyrics {
}
</pre>
<p>>>](/images/math/ece46abfc7484eb3e99146cd86bc1fe5.png)
- In 4\64
![\version "2.12.2"
<<
\new Staff
</p>
<pre>\with {
\override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3
}
\relative c' {
\clef percussion
\time 4/64
e16 a,32[ a] a64[ a] a[ e'] a,16
\bar "|."
}
\addlyrics {
}
</pre>
<p>>>](/images/math/e0927d20145d1c5299700b80cae0a41e.png)
- In 4\128
![\version "2.12.2"
<<
\new Staff
</p>
<pre>\with {
\override StaffSymbol #'line-count = #3
}
\relative c' {
\clef percussion
\time 4/128
e32 a,64[ a] a128[ a] a[ e'] a,32
\bar "|."
}
\addlyrics {
}
</pre>
<p>>>](/images/math/e72273d79dba80e07eea86887625e0b9.png)
