Regular and Irregular Time Signatures

Rhythm plays a vital role in the composition of music and is integral to understanding the principles of musical theory. In our previous discussion, we introduced the concept of time signatures. Now, building upon this foundation, let's explore this aspect more thoroughly.

How does the time signature work?

Find a simple explanation of what the time signature is in music and learn how to interpret the numbers in this symbol that determines the rhythm of sheet music.

Flat - BlogRebeca Valverde

Time signatures can be categorized into two types: regular and irregular. In simpler terms, we will delve into the process of identifying a song's time signature through attentive listening.

🤓 Reviewing important concepts

I want us to review a few key concepts to make sure we have a solid foundation for understanding what the irregular time signature is.

As a quick reminder from our earlier conversation, the bottom number in the time signature signifies the beat size, and when combined with the top number, it indicates the number of these beats within each measure.

🚀 Join us as we further unravel the intricacies of musical rhythm and enhance your ability to discern the rhythmic structure of various compositions.

What is a regular time signature?

I propose a different approach for our discussion today. We'll begin by checking some examples of regular time signatures. Your task is to find out if these examples have something in common. Following this, I will guide you through an explanation of what constitutes a regular time signature.

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: simple and compound time signatures.

Regular Simple Time Singatures

In essence, simple time signatures have an upper number divisible by 2, 3, or 4. If divisible by 2, we call them binary; if divisible by 3, they are termed ternary, and when divisible by 4, they take on the title of quaternary.

Given that four is divisible by 2, binary and quaternary time signatures might appear alike initially. However, it's crucial to recognize that subtle differences exist between them, impacting the rhythmic feel of a song. We'll explore these nuances in greater detail shortly.

The most used time signature nowadays

You can probably guess that the most used time signature nowadays is 4/4 in many different genres of music (salsa, hip-hop, funk, electronic, pop, etc.).

Now, let's think about 2/2 compared 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, they do have distinctions. Even though 2/2 isn't widely used nowadays, it serves a purpose by allowing for a quicker tempo. If you were in 4/4 and attempted to play as fast, it might feel a bit awkward, not quite in sync, like a runner slightly out of step. 🏃‍♂️🎵

If you want to go deeper into the subject, I recommend this video:

While 4/4 is the most commonly used time signature, there are other types. Many, in fact. And they exist to give a different feel to the music we compose.

Let's listen to some amazing songs in different time signatures!

This is 4/4:

This is 3/4:

This is 7/4:

The compound time signature

This type of time signature arises from the need to have a subdivision of 3 per beat. In other words, each beat in the measure would have three sub-beats.

👀 We could use triplets in a 4/4 time signature to generate the same rhythmic effect, but it is not practical.

In other words, each beat in a measure in x/4 would be subdivided in a binary form. A beat in a measure for a time signature of x/8, on the other hand, would be subdivided in a ternary form, which adds a swing feel to a song 🕺🏽.

Symbolically, it would be represented in this way:

The unit of tempo for 4/4 is a quarter note (equivalent to 2 eighth notes), and the unit of tempo for 3/8 is a dotted quarter note (equivalent to 3 eighth notes). Remember that tempo and time signature are not the same things❗️

✨ Perhaps you will understand this better with an example.

3/4 vs 6/8
You might believe these time signatures are the same thing. Spoiler alert: they are not. Although both have six eighth notes per measure, 3/4 has 3 beats, and 6/8 has two beats. You will notice this when you listen to the accents in the bars.

💡If you don't remember how the accents work, you can check it out the article below:

What is rhythm?

Rhythm is everywhere. Do you want to know what it is and its role in music? This article is for you.

Flat - BlogRebeca Valverde

Now I want to talk about 12/8

This type of time signature gained popularity in the context of blues music, a genre distinguished by its swing. This characteristic makes it an ideal time signature for capturing the rhythmic essence and dynamic feel inherent in blues music.

Let's listen to an example:

You might say, "Muddy Waters counted to four at the beginning of the song!" And indeed, that's accurate. The method of counting in these types of measures is in 4, but acknowledging that the division is ternary (3). Consequently, there would be a total of 12 notes per measure 💁.

This is another example of a song in 12/8:

12/8 vs 6/8

These two types of time signatures are very similar. You might think 12/8 is two 6/8 measures, but they are not. They have a different feel.
How to differentiate between them?

Listen to the accent!

However, distinguishing between them can be challenging, especially with drums or percussion. I recommend searching for additional cues to identify the time signature, such as shifts in harmony.

Let's listen to this song:

In this case, you know that it is in 6/8, not 12/8, because the guitar makes a harmonic change every 6 beats.
Do the counting exercise, and you'll realize I'm not fooling you 🙈.

Simple vs. compound time signatures

Let's review what we've talked about so far!

As you can see below, the main differences between the simple and the compound time signatures comes from the bottom number and the subdivision of the beat. In other words, the simple time signature is x/4, and the compound time signature is x/8.
Moreover, in a simple time signature, the beats will be divided in a binary way, and in the compound time signature, they will be divided in a ternary way.

Also, the unit of tempo for simple time signatures is a quarter note, and the unit of tempo for compound time signatures is a dotted quarter note.

Now, what these two types of time signatures have in common is that there is symmetry within each measure. You can see it in the image below, where the possible subdivision in both types of time signatures always creates symmetry within the bar.

Now, the irregular time signature has no symmetry 🤯. Having said that, let's dig deeper into this type of time signature.

The irregular time signature

✋🏾 Before providing the definition of the irregular time signature, let's examine an example: 7/8.

If you attempt to group the notes to create a certain symmetry, it will not be possible. If you try to do it the way you divide a simple regular bar, you will have an eighth note left over.

Now, if you try to group the notes the way you divide a simple compound time signature, you will have one eighth note left over.

As you can see, the irregular time signature has no symmetry. This occurs because this type of time signature results from a combination of a regular simple time signature and a compound time signature 💁🏼.

We divide the measure in a way that we can find a certain order. The subdivision depends on the rhythm we want to create, and we will delve into this in detail in an upcoming article.

If you listen to a song with an irregular time signature and try to clap in x/4, you will get lost 🤪. This type of time signature generates songs in which it is difficult for us to follow the rhythm by clapping our hands or moving our heads. Additionally, the irregular time signature evokes a feeling of suspension or that the bars are somehow incomplete. It's not that they are incomplete; the truth is that we don't find this type of time signature in the most popularized and commercial music. Consequently, we do not feel very familiar with it.

I'll leave a couple of songs with this type of time signature for you to listen to.

Pro tip: how to count in these types of time signature

To count in this type of time signature, you can do it in two ways. First, you can count by eighth notes.

That counting works very well for measures like 5/8. However, for larger time signatures, this can be tricky, so it's best to count in quarter notes and dotted quarter notes.

To finish, remember that the time signature can change in a song or have time signatures that seem very complex. For example, Tool's "Schism," for the most part, has a time signature that alternates between 5/8 and 7/8.

🎧 Please, don't be overwhelmed or intimidated by the apparent complexity of the time signatures in certain songs. The key is to go from the general to the specific. Also, listen to lots and lots of music of all kinds; this way, you'll become familiar with the different time signatures.

How to recognize the time signature of a song

The best way to do this is with your palms 👏🏿. Listen carefully to the song—first, identify the pulse by clapping, then pinpoint the accent, and finally, discern the subdivision of each pulse.

The pulse and the accent will reveal how many beats are in each measure, while the subdivision will indicate the type of beat. Remember, the key to improvement is consistent practice, practice, practice.

Here's a little tech hack 🤫 that can make your life easier: on this page, enter the song's name, and voila! You'll have all the information about the time signature.

I recommend using both resources. Immerse yourself in a variety of music, try discovering time signatures independently, and cross-check your findings on the page I've shared with you.

That's all for today! I hope you've enjoyed this article and gained valuable insights.
Don't forget to put all into practice using your music notation sofware. Practice is the key for improving in music.

See you next time,