Music: Time Signatures and Counting Beats
Reading meter, counting measures, and finding strong beats
Music: Time Signatures and Counting Beats
Reading meter, counting measures, and finding strong beats
Music - Grade 6-8
- 1
In the time signature 4/4, what does the top number tell you, and what does the bottom number tell you?
The top number counts beats per measure, and the bottom number names the note value that gets one beat.
In 4/4 time, the top number tells you there are 4 beats in each measure. The bottom number tells you that a quarter note gets 1 beat. - 2
Count this measure in 4/4 time: quarter note, quarter note, half note. Does the measure have the correct number of beats?
Yes, the measure has the correct number of beats. A quarter note is 1 beat, another quarter note is 1 beat, and a half note is 2 beats, for a total of 4 beats. - 3
In 3/4 time, how many beats are in one measure, and which note value gets 1 beat?
Look at the top and bottom numbers separately.
In 3/4 time, there are 3 beats in one measure. The quarter note gets 1 beat. - 4
A measure in 3/4 time contains a half note and a quarter note. How many beats are in the measure?
The measure has 3 beats. The half note gets 2 beats, and the quarter note gets 1 beat, so 2 + 1 = 3. - 5
In 2/4 time, a measure contains two quarter notes. Write the counting syllables you would say while clapping the measure.
Each quarter note takes one beat, and there are two beats in the measure.
You would count the measure as 1, 2. Each quarter note gets one beat in 2/4 time. - 6
In 4/4 time, a measure contains four eighth notes followed by one half note. How many beats are in the measure?
The measure has 4 beats. Four eighth notes equal 2 beats, and one half note equals 2 beats, so the total is 4 beats. - 7
In 6/8 time, what does the top number 6 tell you?
In 6/8, the bottom number shows that the eighth note is the beat unit.
The top number 6 tells you that there are 6 eighth-note beats in each measure. - 8
A measure in 6/8 time contains six eighth notes. Write the counting syllables you would use.
You would count the measure as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Each eighth note gets one beat in 6/8 time. - 9
Which time signature usually has a strong beat on beat 1 and weaker beats on beats 2 and 3: 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4?
Think of the count 1, 2, 3 with the first beat emphasized.
The time signature 3/4 usually has a strong beat on beat 1 and weaker beats on beats 2 and 3. This is the meter often used for a waltz feel. - 10
In 4/4 time, a measure contains a whole note. How many beats does the whole note receive, and does it fill the measure?
A whole note receives 4 beats in 4/4 time. It fills the entire measure because 4/4 time has 4 beats per measure. - 11
A rhythm in 4/4 time is counted as 1 and 2 and 3 4. Which beats are divided into eighth notes?
A beat counted with and has been split into two equal parts.
Beats 1 and 2 are divided into eighth notes. The word and shows the second half of each divided beat. - 12
Create one complete measure in 4/4 time using any combination of quarter notes, half notes, eighth notes, or rests. Explain why your measure has 4 beats.
Add the note and rest values until the total is exactly 4 beats.
Answers will vary. One correct example is two quarter notes and one half note, because 1 beat + 1 beat + 2 beats = 4 beats total.