Time Signatures

Time signatures serve as a universal language for musicians using rhythm. 90% of the time they are shown as two numbers stacked on top of each other at the beginning of a score or when ever there is a change in time signatures. Each number has a different meaning.

The top number is the number of beats in a bar.

The bottom number is the type of note representing the beat. E.g. crotchet, quaver, etc. The most common bottom numbers are 2, 4 and 8. Representing a minim, crotchet and quaver respectively.

For example. 4/4 time signature means there are 4 crotchet beats in a bar. 4/4 is also known as common time and can be also represented as the letter C. This is because 4/4 is nearly always used in modern contemporary music.

Example:

Here is an extract from Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles. As you can see the time signature changes from 11/8 to 4/4 to 7/8. By listen to the track from 1 min 30 you can hear how the 'feel' of the song changes as the time signature changes. It sounds more free flowing when in 11/8 and then returns to the regular feel of 4/4. You can also see that in 11/8 there are 11 quavers making up the single bar.

Why do we need time signatures?

Time signatures are incredibly useful as they apply to every instrument. It allows for all musicians to be on the same page when grouping together rhythms to create phrases and allows for musicians to work together to create the 'feel' of the music. It also lets musicians know when a phrase starts and ends.