Rhythm - Meter and Time Signature

Meter is the result of grouping beats together into regular sets. In notation, each group of beats is contained in a measure (or bar), which is separated from the next measure with a vertical line, or bar line. The first beat of each group is the strongest and is called the downbeat. In the patterns that conductors use to indicate meter, the downbeat is always indicated by a large downward motion. The last beat in a measure is the weakest, and is called the upbeat. 

The organization of beats into regular groups is called meter. Meter is a recurring pattern of stresses or accents that provide the pulse of the music and an established arrangement of strong and weak pulsations, known as beats, separated by bar lines. 

Duple, Triple, and Quadruple Meter
When the beats of a piece are grouped by two (often going STRONG, weak, STRONG, weak - like a march), this is duple meter. When the beats are grouped by three (often STRONG, weak, weak, STRONG, weak, weak - like a waltz), the meter is triple. It is also common to have quadruple meter (often STRONG, weak, weak, weak, STRONG, weak, weak, weak) where the beats are grouped by four. The strong (stressed) beat is known as an accent. 

Meter is notated at the beginning of a composition and is indicated in music notation with time signatures, which consist of two numbers: a top number and a bottom number. These numbers establish the relationship between the beat and the written rhythms.

These two (2) numbers are called a time signature.

The top number of the time signature tells us how many beats there are in each bar or measure.

The bottom number of the time signature tells us what type of note gets one beat.

Here's how to know which note gets one beat:

• if the bottom number is a 2, a half note gets one beat.
• if the bottom number is a 4, a quarter note gets one beat.
• if the bottom number is an 8, an eighth note gets one beat.

The most common meters are duple (2/4), triple (3/4) and quadruple (4/4).

The time signature does not represent a fraction, therefore, NO FRACTION LINE should appear between these numbers.

Remember the time signature refers to the number of BEATS - NOT the number of NOTES in each measure.

Counting in 4/4 time signature

Common time refers to the 4/4 time signature, which signifies four quarter-note beats per measure. It may be written with a c-shaped semicircle.

Rhythm - Beats

Do you know how to feel your heartbeat? Place the first two fingers of either hand on the left or right front of your neck and you will feel your heartbeat. This steady heartbeat is also called you pulse. Each pulse of your heart is called a beat.

Music has a steady pulse, too. Just like your heart, each pulse of music is called a beat.

Tap your fingers on you desk with a steady bear. Follow the notes below with each tap. Each quarter note gets one tap of your fingers. On this staff each quarter note gets one beat.

Now tap it again, but this time, tap a little louder on the first note in each measure.

In the example above, there are four quarter note beats in each measure. Half notes and eighth notes can be used as a beat, too.

There are three half note beats in these measures.

There are six eighth note beats in these measures.

Rests can be beats, too. Tap each of these notes, but don’t tap the rests.

Feel the pulse of the beat for the rest, but don’t tap it.

The beat:

1. Is a  regular, reoccurring, steady pulse.

2. Enables counting or keeping time.

3. Causes the listener to tap his/her foot, clap his/her hands or move his/her body in the time with the beat.

4. Provides foundation for rhythm.

Rhythm - Bar lines

Look at the notes on this staff.

Suppose you needed to play a note from a particular section. The teacher would have to say something like "play the tenth (10th) note on the staff," and you would have to count from left to right until you found it.

Notes are easier to read when they are divided into groups. Notes are divided into equal groups with lines called bar lines. Bar lines are lines that divide the staff into equal parts.

The area (group of notes) between the two (2) bar lines are called the measures or bars.

Now the teacher can say, "Play the second note in the third measure," and you can find it more quickly.

MUSICAL RULE:

1. There is always a bar line at the end of every staff.
2. There is always a bar line at the end of every measure/bar.

3. Bar lines are not typically placed at the beginning of the music after the clef, key signature or time
    signatures.

4. There is a double bar line at the end of every piece or section. It is made up of one thin line and one
    thick line; with the thick one always on the outside.

Rhythm - Dotted Note and Rest Values

Rule: A dot placed to the right of a note/rest, increases the note/rest by half of it's value.

It is one of the ways used to extend the duration of sound (a note) or silence (a rest).

Let's use an example to clear this up. A half note is 2 beats long. With a dotted half note, we'd hold the note for 2 beats, plus half of it's original value, which is 1 beat. Therefore, we hold the note for a total of 3 beats long. 2 beats (original value) + 1 beat (half of original value.)

Get it? No? Let's try again. What if we did a dotted quarter note? How long would that be held for? Well, let's follow the formula. A quarter note is 1 beat long. For a dotted quarter note, we'd play and hold the note for the original value plus half of its original value. For the dotted quarter note, you would hold it for 1 1/2 beats (the length of 1 quarter note and 1 eighth note.)