Why Are Time Signatures so CONFUSING?

You see fractions and groups of dots on a page.

They seem so complicated.

What do they really mean?

Instead of starting with notation and fractions, let’s think about the concepts they represent.

There are two main concepts:

1. Beats

There are usually 2, 3, or 4 beats in a measure.

The beginning of each new measure is often perceived because of an emphasis on the first beat.

1 2

Or

1 2 3

Or

1 2 3 4

2. Divisions

Each beat can usually have 2 or 3 divisions.

Let’s start with 2 divisions of the beat, which can be counted with ‘and’ between beats.

1 and 2 and

This can be called 2/4.

Or

1 and 2 and 3 and

This can be called 3/4.

Or

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

This can be called 4/4.

Now let’s move to 3 divisions of the beat, which can be counted with “and a” between beats.

1 and a 2 and a

This can be called 6/8.

Or

1 and a 2 and a 3 and a

This can be called 9/8.

Or

1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 and a

This can be called 12/8.

That’s the most important information about time signatures!

Hopefully it seems simpler when you think about it this way.

Any questions?

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