common time

Standard musical meter

Common time is the most prevalent time signature in Western music, with four quarter-note beats per measure.

It's often indicated by a C symbol on the staff rather than the numerical 4/4.

Most popular music—rock, pop, country, hip-hop—is written in common time: The drummer kept steady common time throughout the song.

signature

4/4

Standard musical meter

  • meterDevice that measures usage
  • barDrinking establishment
  • measureUnit of quantity

notation · staff · barline · quadruple · downbeat · score · sheet music · conductor · baton · counting

rhythm

pulse

Arterial blood throb

  • beatRhythmic pulse or strike
  • tempoRate of musical performance
  • metronomeAdjustable beat-marking device

steady · regular · even · groove · swing · pocket · feel · backbeat · accent · syncopation

genres

pop

Fizzy drink, regionally

  • rockSolid earthen material
  • marchRhythmic group walk
  • hymnReligious song of praise

ballad · country · folk · dance music · disco · funk · R&B · blues · jazz standards · punk

Categories
Opposites
meter/time signature

common timetriple meter

Rhythm grouped by threes

3/4 time · 6/8 time · compound meter · 3/4 · cut time

Family

common, time, commonly, commonness, commons, commoner, commonest, uncommon, uncommonly

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G