Compound metre
A time signature whose beat divides into three parts, such as 6/8 or 9/8. The number above the line names the parts, the number of leading beats is a third of it.
- Examples
- 6/8, 9/8, 12/8
- Leading beat
- dotted quarter note (three eighth notes)
- Division
- each beat in three parts
- Counterpart
- simple metre (2/4, 3/4, 4/4)
In a simple metre such as 3/4 each beat divides into two equal parts. In a compound metre it divides into three. That is why 6/8 does not sound like triple time although it has six eighth notes: it has two beats, each divided into three eighth notes.
6/8: two leading beats, three eighth notes each
The first bar consists of two groups: quarter note + eighth note, quarter note + eighth note. Each group lasts three eighth notes. In the second bar the two leading beats are written as dotted quarter notes. The starts of the groups are marked.
The division in threes
The number above the line of the time signature names the number of eighth notes. If you divide it by three you get the number of leading beats. 6/8 becomes two, 9/8 three, 12/8 four. The basic beats you feel are dotted quarter notes; the eighth notes between are the division.
| Time signature | Leading beats | Eighth notes per group | corresponds to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/8 | 2 | 3 | 2/4 with triple division |
| 9/8 | 3 | 3 | 3/4 with triple division |
| 12/8 | 4 | 3 | 4/4 with triple division |
How to tell compound from simple metre
One clue is in the notation: the eighth notes are grouped in threes under a beam. By ear it is the “rocking” character that comes from the division in threes. The same tempo in 2/4 with eighth notes sounds straight and marching, in 6/8 flowing and dancing. Six-eight time, nine-eight time and twelve-eight time are compound too.
Counting
First count all the eighth notes and stress the first of each group: “1 2 3, 4 5 6”. At a fast tempo you count only the starts of the groups, that is, “one, two” in 6/8. The tempo then refers to the dotted quarter note.
Voice and piano
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Die junge Nonne Franz Schubert, voice and piano, with chords for guitar · 7 pages
Page 1 is in 12/8 with four flats in the key signature. Above the start is the tempo marking “Mässig.” (moderately). The voice rests in the first eight bars with whole rests and enters only at the end of bar 9; the piano begins alone.
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Related terms
Six-eight timeNine-eight timeTwelve-eight timeTriple metreThree-four timeTime signatureBar / measureBeat
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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