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.