Learn sheet music – Time signature
Do you like math? Because now the argument become really mathematical.
To know the total value of the musical notes and pauses that are contained in a measure we need to watch the time signature.
We can virtually find any kind of time, but it is better for readability and simplicity to stop to just some of them.
..If you noticed, at the side of the clef sign you find a fraction.
This is what we will talk about right now !
The lower number indicates the unit of your musical notes, in other words it indicates the beat note.
So it can be 2, 4, 8. To use shorter notes like 16 or 32 will not have any advange, so it is better to stop here.
The upper part indicates how many beats are contained in the measure. So it tells us how many time we will see that note and it will help us to know the total value of the musical notes contained in a single measure.
If you see a 4/4 time, what does it means ? That the longest note contained in a single measure is the 4/4 musical note because we will find 1/4 note 4 times.
If you see a 2/4 time, it means that the longest note contained in a single measure is the 2/4 and that we can write two times our beat note ( 1/4).
If you see a 3/8 time, it means that our beat note is 1/8 , that we will see it 3 times in the measure. So the longest note will have the value of a 1/4 + 1/8 note.
If you see a 12/8 time, it means that we will find 1/8Â in the measure 12 times. So the longest note contained in the measure will be an 8/4 note.
We can also find those 2 signs instead of a numerical fraction.
Those are called "tempo comune" and "alla breve"
Tempo comune is a C at the side of the clef and it has the same value of the 4/4.
Alla breve has a vertical line in the middle of the C and it has the same value of the 2/2.
Don't confususe Tempo comune and Alla breve with the Bass clef sign.
Intimidating ? Let's try to practice a little it bit with the game.
Now that you know everything you need to know about tempo and timing you can either go back at the Page architecture, else continue with the keys tutorial .
You can also use the Learn sheet music – guide list to travel to through the whole tutorial.
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