Time signature

The pair of numbers at the start of a piece that states how many beats are in each bar and which note value gets the beat.

The upper number of a time signature gives the number of beats per bar and the lower number names the note value that counts as one beat, so a signature of four over four means four quarter-note beats in every bar. Guitarists feel the difference immediately: two-four marches, three-four waltzes, four-four rock and six-eight ballads all sit under the hand in different ways. A piece can change signature mid-section, which is common in progressive rock and film music.

Example: A song counted one-two-three-four with a snare on two and four is in a time signature of four over four.

Time signature

See also