Learning music notation might seem complex at first, but it's not as hard as it looks. For most concepts, all it takes is a simple explanation, some patience, and a lot of practice!
And we're here to help you grasp it. Today, we'll take a look at what a measure means in the music notation system and how it's used in composition.
What is a measure?
In just a few words, the measure is how we organize the music to articulate ideas and give the song a coherent structure. Think of a measure as a unit of organization, similar to phrases in verbal language.
Remember that all knowledge is built little by little, so it's important to have a strong foundation (understanding the most basic concepts) in order to then confidently move on to more complex topics. When it comes to measures, you need to already be familiar with the following concepts:
Without further ado, let's dive into today's topic! Remember to have your music notation software handy so you can practice and integrate everything we discuss here.
Ready to understand how measures work? Let's do this!
How can I identify the measures in a score?
In music notation, a measure (also known as a bar) is a defined segment of time within a piece of music. It is delineated by vertical lines on the staff.
Below are 3 measures, highlighted by red rectangles. As you can see, each measure is delineated by a vertical line:
What is the role of measures in music notation?
Very simply, we use measures because they make it easier to read music. The role of measures in music notation is to group notes, providing structure and coherence to our musical ideas.
You might be wondering, "Why not simply write notes one after the other?" Well, just as you wouldn't string wordstogetherwithoutanyspacesbetweenthem in a sentence, music benefits from this kind of structure, too! Remember, music is a language, and effective communication isn't just about saying whatever comes to mind, regardless of order. Composing music is about skillfully conveying the message in a manner that faithfully represents our artistic vision.
Now, how do we group the notes in the measures? The number of beats in a measure is determined by the time signature.
đź’ˇIf you need to review the concepts of time signature and beats, this is the article for you.
How do the measures work in music?
As we just said, the number of notes per measure will be determined by the time signature. Musicians read and perform the notes within a measure in a rhythmic pattern that fits this time frame.
🙋🏻‍♂️Let's take two steps back and thoroughly review what I mean by this.
How to interpret the time signature
The time signature tells you how the beats are divided in a song. The beat is how we measure time in a song, counted as beats per minute (BPM). The speed of the beat is called the tempo. We show tempo using a musical rhythmic note and a number, like ♩=60, which means 60 beats per minute.
The symbol for the time signature is composed of a number over another number. This will tell you how many and how long the beats are in the measures.
The bottom number indicates the value of the beat in each bar in terms of rhythmic figures. Taking into account the porportion between the rhythmic notes, 1/4 is a quarter note (since it is a quarter of a whole). Therefore, if you see a 4/4 time signature, it means that the unit of the beat will be a quarter. And this happens with all the other rhythmic figures as well: if we had 4/8 time signature instead of 4/4, it means that the unit of the beat is an eighth note. And so on.
The top number tells you how many of these rhythmic notes are in each bar. So, if the time signature is 4/4, there are four quarters in each bar. If it says 2/4, there are two quarters in each bar. And if it's 12/8, there are 12 eighth notes in each bar.
You can think it this way:
4/4 = I need four 1/4(quarter) notes per bar.
3/4= I need three 1/4(quarter) notes per bar.
12/8= I need twelve 1/8 (eighth) notes per bar.
The top number shows how many rhythmic notes are in each measure, and the number on the bottom tells you the type of note used for counting.
To sum up
Measures act as a fundamental rhythmic framework for a piece of music. They help musicians maintain a consistent tempo and provide a structured framework for the composition. This division of music into measures aids in interpretation, rehearsal, and performance, ensuring a cohesive and organized rendition of the piece.
I hope you've learned a lot here! Don't forget to go to your Flat account and put all this into practice.
If you want to learn more about the time signature, I suggest reviewing these articles:
- What is rhythm? A simple music definition
- How does the time signature work?
- Regular and Irregular Time Signatures
See you next time,