Time signature

Two numbers

The upper number gives the number of beats per bar, the lower the note value that forms one beat: 4 stands for the quarter note, 8 for the eighth note, 2 for the half note. A 3/4 bar therefore contains three quarter-note beats; that is the typical waltz with its stress on one. 4/4 is also written “C”; the C goes back to the half circle of the tempus imperfectum in mensural notation.

Simple and compound

In compound time signatures every leading beat is divided into three eighth notes. A 6/8 bar counts six eighth notes but has only two leading beats: you count “1-2-3-4-5-6” with the weight on 1 and 4. That gives it its rocking, flowing character, as in ballads and barcaroles. Feeling the stressed beat is more important than the counting itself. A 4/4 bar marches, a 3/4 bar swings and turns. Which beats of the bar are stressed is explained on the page Beat.

Time signatures in pieces

These three guitar pieces show time signatures other than 4/4.

Guitar

• Etüde Nr. 13 Matteo Carcassi, op. 60 No. 13 · guitar

  2/4: two quarter notes per bar, headed “Andante grazioso”.

• Gitarrenschule, Stück Nr. 11 Ferdinando Carulli · guitar

  3/8: three eighth notes per bar, with the marking “Tempo di Valse”.

• Lektion Nr. 5 Fernando Sor, op. 60 No. 5 · guitar · 1 page

  6/8: six eighth notes, played in two groups of three eighths each.

Common mistakes

• Counting 6/8 like 3/4: Both have six eighth notes, but 6/8 has two leading beats, 3/4 three.
• Confusing the time signature with tempo: The time signature says how the beats are grouped, not how fast they come.
• Swapping the upper and lower number: The beats are on top, the note value at the bottom.