time-signature
Musical measure indicator
A time signature is a notation at the beginning of a musical score indicating the meter—how many beats per measure and what note value gets one beat.
The top number shows beats per measure, the bottom shows the note value: 4/4 means four quarter-note beats, 3/4 means three.
The waltz is written in 3/4 time.
Musicians call 4/4 "common time."
Standard musical meter
- 3/4Seventy-five percent
- 6/8Time signature, six eighths
- 2/4Half, written numerically
- compoundCombined into one
simple · duple · triple · quadruple · meter · measure · bar · staff
Negatively toned or dispirited
- upbeatCheerfully optimistic
- pulseArterial blood throb
- accentRegional speech pattern
- subdivisionPortion of something larger
syncopation · polyrhythm · groove · feel · swing · shuffle · backbeat · strong beat
4/4
Standard musical meter
compound · simple · duple · triple · quadruple · meter · measure · bar · staff · score
downbeat
Negatively toned or dispirited
subdivision · syncopation · polyrhythm · groove · feel · swing · shuffle · backbeat · strong beat
waltz
Dance in three-quarter time
polka · mazurka · minuet · bolero · tango · samba · bossa nova · reggae · punk