Rhythm plays a vital role in when creating a song in a music notation software, and is essential for understanding the principles of musical theory. In our previous discussion, we introduced the concept of time signatures. Now, building on that foundation, let's explore this aspect more thoroughly.
Time signatures are divided into two types: regular and irregular. In simpler terms, we'll explore how to identify a song's time signature through careful listening.
đ€ Reviewing important concepts
Let's go over a few key points to ensure we have a solid understanding of time signatures.
As a quick refresher from our earlier discussion, the bottom number in the time signature represents the beat size, while the top number tells us how many of those beats are in each measure.
What is a regular time signature?
Letâs take a different approach today. Weâll start by looking at a few examples of regular time signatures. Your task is to see if these examples have something in common. After that, Iâll walk you through what makes a time signature "regular."
Regular Time Signature Examples
Example 1
4/4 = 4 quarter notes per measure
Example 2
3/4 = 3 quarter notes per measure
Example 3
6/8 = 6 eighth notes per measure
Example 3
9/8 = 3 groups of 3 eighth notes per measure
Now, there are two types of regular time signatures: i) simple, and ii) compound time signatures.
Regular Simple Time Singatures
In simple terms, time signatures with a top number divisible by 2, 3, or 4 are called "simple time signatures." If the number is divisible by 2, it's referred to as binary; if divisible by 3, it's ternary; and if divisible by 4, it's quaternary.
At first glance, binary and quaternary time signatures may seem similar since 4 is divisible by 2. However, there are important differences that influence the rhythmic feel of a piece of music, which weâll explore in more detail soon.
As for the most commonly used time signature today, itâs likely no surprise that 4/4 is the standard in many music genres, including salsa, hip-hop, funk, electronic, and pop.
Now, let's take a closer look at how 2/2 compares to 4/4.
2/2 = two half notes (4 quarters) per measure
4/4 = 4 quarter notes per measure
Looks like the same, right?
Certainly, there are differences between them. While 2/2 isn't as commonly used today, it serves a specific purpose by allowing for a quicker tempo. If you tried to play at the same speed in 4/4, it might feel a bit off, like a runner who's slightly out of sync. đââïžđ”
If youâd like to dive deeper into the topic, I recommend watching this video:
While 4/4 is the most commonly used time signature, there are many others that bring a different feel to the music we create.
Letâs explore some great songs with different time signatures!
This is 4/4:
This is 3/4:
This is 7/4:
The compound time signature
This type of time signature comes from the need to subdivide each beat into three parts. In other words, every beat in the measure has three sub-beats.
đ While you could use triplets in a 4/4 time signature to create a similar rhythm, it's not the most practical approach.
In other words, each beat in a measure with an x/4 time signature would be subdivided in a binary form. In contrast, a beat in a measure with an x/8 time signature would be subdivided in a ternary form, giving the music a swing feel đșđœ.
This would be represented like this:
The unit of tempo for 4/4 is a quarter note (equal to 2 eighth notes), while the unit of tempo for 3/8 is a dotted quarter note (equal to 3 eighth notes). Keep in mind, tempo and time signature are not the same thingâïž
âš Perhaps you will understand this better with an example.
3/4 vs 6/8
You might think these time signatures are the same, but spoiler alert: theyâre not. While both have six eighth notes per measure, 3/4 has 3 beats, and 6/8 has 2 beats. Youâll notice the difference by listening to where the accents fall in the bars.
đĄIf you don't remember how the accents work, you can check out the article below:
Now, letâs talk about 12/8.
This time signature became popular in blues music, a genre known for its swing. Its unique feel makes it perfect for capturing the rhythm and dynamic energy that define blues music.
Let's listen to an example:
You might say, "Muddy Waters counted to four at the beginning of the song!" And youâd be right. In this type of measure, the counting is in 4, but the division is in groups of 3. So, there are 12 notes in each measure đ.
This is another example of a song in 12/8:
12/8 vs 6/8
These time signatures are quite similar. You might think 12/8 is just two 6/8 measures, but theyâre not the sameâthey have a different feel.
How do you tell them apart? Listen to the accent!
However, it can be tricky, especially with drums or percussion. I suggest looking for additional clues, like changes in harmony, to help identify the time signature.
Let's listen to this song:
In this case, you can tell itâs in 6/8, not 12/8, because the guitar changes harmony every 6 beats. Try the counting exercise, and youâll see Iâm not kidding đ.
Simple vs. Compound Time Signatures
Letâs review what weâve covered so far!
The key difference between simple and compound time signatures lies in the bottom number and how the beats are divided. In a simple time signature, like x/4, the beats are divided in a binary way. In a compound time signature, like x/8, the beats are divided in a ternary way.
Additionally, in simple time signatures, the unit of tempo is a quarter note, while in compound time signatures, itâs a dotted quarter note.
What these two types of time signatures have in common is the symmetry within each measure. As shown in the image below, the subdivision in both simple and compound time signatures always creates a balanced, symmetrical structure within the bar.
Now, the irregular time signature has no symmetry đ€Ż. Having said that, let's dig deeper into this type of time signature.
The irregular time signature
âđŸ Before we define what an irregular time signature is, letâs take a look at an example: 7/8.
If you try to group the notes to create symmetry, it wonât work. When you divide it like a regular simple time signature, youâll end up with an extra eighth note.
Now, if you try grouping the notes like you would in a compound time signature, youâll still have one eighth note left over.
As you can see, irregular time signatures lack symmetry. This happens because they combine elements of both regular simple time signatures and compound time signatures đđŒ.
We divide the measure in a way that creates some order, but the subdivision depends on the rhythm we want to achieve. Weâll explore this in more detail in an upcoming article.
If you listen to a song with an irregular time signature and try to clap along in x/4, youâll likely get lost đ€Ș. Irregular time signatures make it difficult to follow the rhythm by clapping or nodding along. They also create a sense of suspension, as if the bars are incomplete. Itâs not that theyâre incomplete; itâs just that irregular time signatures arenât common in popular or commercial music, so weâre less familiar with them.
Iâll share a couple of songs with this type of time signature for you to check out!
đ„ Pro tip: How to count in these types of time signatures
There are two ways to count irregular time signatures. The first is by counting each eighth note individually.
That method works well for time signatures like 5/8. However, for larger time signatures, it can get tricky, so itâs better to count in quarter notes or dotted quarter notes instead.
To wrap up, remember that a song's time signature can change or sometimes include complex patterns. For example, Tool's "Schism" often alternates between 5/8 and 7/8 throughout the song.
đ§ Donât be overwhelmed or intimidated by the complexity of time signatures in some songs. The key is to start simple and build your understanding step by step. Also, listen to a wide range of musicâyouâll get more familiar with different time signatures over time.
How to recognize the time signature of a song
The best way is by using your hands đđż. Listen closely to the songâstart by clapping along to find the pulse, then listen for the accents, and finally, figure out how each pulse is subdivided. The pulse and accents tell you how many beats are in each measure, while the subdivisions reveal the type of beat. And remember, the key to improvement is practice, practice, practice.
Hereâs a little tech hack đ€«: on this page, you can enter the songâs name, and voilĂ ! Youâll get all the details about its time signature.
I recommend using both methods: listen to music and try to discover the time signatures on your own, then check your findings online.
Thatâs all for today! I hope you found this article helpful. Donât forget to apply what youâve learned using your music notation softwareâpractice is key to getting better at music!
See you next time!