time signatures
Rhythmic fraction indicators
A time signature is the notation at the beginning of a piece of music indicating how many beats are in each measure and which note value gets one beat.
Written as stacked numbers—4/4, 3/4, 6/8—the top number shows beats per measure, the bottom shows the note value.
The waltz is in 3/4 time.
Musicians call 4/4 "common time."
- mensural notationSystem indicating rhythmic values
- pulseArterial blood throb
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- strong beatAccented rhythmic pulse
- measureUnit of quantity
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