We all are fascinated by the concept of rhythm. Different forms of rhythm can make our hearts and our bodies begin to move as soon as we hear them. They have the uncanny ability to completely change a person’s mood the moment they listen to a song with an upbeat rhythm.
This is possible since music has an unmistakable effect on people, and a powerful impact on their emotions. Music has always been a driving force, which has the propensity to motivate people from within themselves. One of the most important aspects of control when it comes to rhythm, are time signatures.
If a rhythm does not have the appropriate time signature, then it will not have a proper structure to emulate, or even allow it to be used with other elements of that particular piece of music.
The standard use of time signatures originated from the different ways beats were played, and how they were represented across different cultures. The best way to understand time signature is thinking about a leash that has been attached to a dog’s collar.
It makes the beat stay on track and allows it to express itself in the correct lane. When you have a beat that is controlled, you can add chords to it, and it can even accompany numerous other instruments as they will maintain the proper time signature.
Time signature is one of the most important aspects of music theory that needs to be understood properly in order to organize a project in any aspect of musical composition. Without a time signature, it would be difficult to even put together a simple piece of music for someone else to reproduce.
The time signature is used in musical composition to control the beats that are played in the song. It permits the song to follow a regular beat in the timing, which keeps it in alignment. It also allows other instruments to be incorporated smoothly within that particular piece of music.
Timing is a highly significant aspect of music that is quite often overlooked. The time signature is considered a fundamental aspect of rhythm in music and when correctly used, it produces a more vibrant song.
Knowing that the use of time signature can help you out in music production and in playing proper music is one thing. But taking the time to learn how it works will also help you to analyze the manner in which to use the time signature when you are composing your own songs. In this article, I will walk you through all of the in-depth details about time signatures, and how they can be altered according to the needs of the song at hand. Let’s get started shall we.
What is a Time Signature?
Time signature, also known as meter signature, is a notational convention used in the Western musical system. It is employed to specify how many beats there are in each bar, which allows the time to be measured. In this case, each note value is equivalent to one beat. If you look at any sheet of music of a musical score, you will see various numbers with a numerator and denominator.
These numbers describe how to interpret the musical rhythms for when the piece is played. They inform the musician how to count and keep track of the beat, and they will also help them to understand if they are playing the rhythm correctly. These numbers can be written in so many different ways, and each number depicts a different beat and therefore a different measure.
For Example 5/4, 2/4, 6/8…etc.
These are just some of the time signatures that you might see on a sheet of music paper. These numbers and symbols, which can be confusing at first, and may put the question in your mind, ‘do we actually need these time signatures?’ Although time signatures have numerous purposes in musical composition, to an untrained ear, they may all sound the same. But to a trained ear, even a small change in the rhythm will be audible almost immediately.
This is one of the main reasons why music producers are taught to have reasonable listening practices to train their ears to hear for these particular mistakes in songs. When you examine the fundamentals of music, the notes are seldom repeated as music regularly moves from one note to the other, and it’s never static. When music is moving with a set of notes and chords, it has to maintain certain rules that permit it to be steady. This is where the chosen time signature comes into play.
Time signatures provide us with a way to notate everything that we play on an instrument. They open a pathway to when a note should be played, and how the note should be played. These specific types of rules and regulations will help the notes to stay on time.
When sheet music is presented to someone else, they will be able play the same piece that was originally written because they understand the rules and modifications given at the start of the song. This is why meters and measures of a beat are so important in musical performances, and why people put a high level of stress on keeping to the beat while singing a song.
When you are examining beats, you will find two words used again and again. They are time signature and meter. Time signature refers to the number and types of notes, whereas meter refers to how they are grouped in a repeated pattern.
The number of notes allowed in a particular measure is dictated through the time signature. Every single time signature has a top and a bottom number. The top number measures the number of beats in every measure. The bottom note refers to the way every top note should be counted.
The Purpose of Time Signatures
Using time, as mentioned above, is essential to make sure that the track is properly managed throughout the project. If you don’t have a time signature, then the notes will not have any rules to follow. Occasionally, the time signature may not be mentioned and will then be represented by a letter {c}.
This symbol means that the piece of music is in ‘common time’. Common time is nothing but a 4/4 measure, which is found in a majority of tracks. Whereas ‘cut time’ is used in places where the timing is different from the actual 4/4. Cut time is represented by the symbols {<s>c</s>}. Cut time is a measure of 2/2.
When we talk about meter classifications as usage in music production, you have to understand the usage of a time signature is to set the mood of a piece of music. The time signature can easily help you to set the mood for any musical composition. If you look at the time signature of 3/4, it’s a waltz beat that has been composed in such a way that it guides a dancing action. On the same note, if you listen to a piece that has a 6/8 time signature, it holds more of a romantic sound.
Even though time signature is essential for song construction, the idea of which meter to use varies on the part and region of the world from where that piece of music originates. Some folks like to write their music in 6/8, while others like to write in 4/4. Some will even swear by a particular option, saying theirs is the best option to choose.
In all of these arguments, you will find that they all stick by a measure. They will never say that you don’t have to use a time signature, because time is what makes the song move the notes and elements to a particular rhythm.
One of the main purposes of the time signature is to interpret the structure of the song. Essentially, music is sound that has been organized through sections of time. The time signature will inform you how the structure of the song is organized, and therefore how to play it correctly.
Even though there are different beats in a single measure, there are beat hierarchies that need to be followed. This is one of the primary purposes of a time signature in sheet music. When you follow this beat hierarchy, you are required to accent the first note in a measure. Generally, the first note is strongly accented to make sure that it can be differentiated from the rest of the track.
Syncopation is another significant term that a music producer, or even anyone involved in music should learn about. Syncopation is the rhythmic shifting of the accented beat from the traditionally strong beats of one and three. This can only be controlled if the time signature is properly set.
Without the proper time signature, a music producer or the performer will not be able to control the time of the beat, not to mention how it should be accepted throughout the song. These are the kinds of problems that someone might face if the time signature has not been specified in the song or music piece.
Every known musical genre follows a particular set of rules in terms of the time signature used. For example, dance music follows double time, and waltz follows triple time. This can be employed only with the inclusion of a time signature, and helps to audibly distinguish between different genres of music.
Types of Time Signatures
Meter classifications are incredibly important in musical production, however, this importance is quite often overlooked. There are three types of meter classifications, which are classified for ease of notation. Let’s look at each of them one by one.
Simple time – this is any meter whose basic note division has been split into groups of two. A few examples would be 3/4, 2/4, or 2/2. These meters are known as simple time because of the quarter note division that occurs, dividing it into the two eight notes. The hard note divides equally into two-quarter notes, or the whole note divides equally into two half notes.
Compound time – this is slightly more complicated than simple time. Here, every single note division has been split into groups of three. An easy way to automatically know that you are not in simple time is if you notice that there is an 8 in the denominator of the time measure.
When you see an 8 as the bottom of your time signature, you should know that your eight notes should be grouped into sets of three instead of two. This is the main distinction that you will notice between simple time and compound time, as the groupings are completely different. This is the same case with 9/8 as well as 12/8.
When you inspect how composers make use of the compound time signature, you will note that they use triplets’ simple two-group time signatures, and then mark them all with sub-divisions of triplets. In simple terms, two form groupings are turned into three form groupings.
When these compound timings are performed, they are usually resolved into simple timing in order to make sure that the sheet music isn’t cluttered. Using compound time has the potential to confuse performers themselves, especially those who are not used to switching between time signatures.
Even though there are numerous divisions and time signatures in existence, simple time has been made use of in Western music for more than 7 centuries. But the first to be notated, and notated for sheet music was that of compound timing. Writing a song in a complex time signature is not all too complex, but performing it with absolute excellence is where many people find difficulty.
It takes a considerable amount of time and precision to practice, as well as perform songs in compound time. If sheet music has been written making use of several different time signatures within one song, the compound time section is usually performed at the end to avoid confusion in the big opening of theatre performances.
The final metering scale can be defined by having irregular timing. It has an irregular or unequal subdivision of the beat that is notated. These irregularities are notable by the performer. The most common irregularities that are found in irregular timing are the use of both simple and compound timing in a single measure.
Examples of these types of measures are 5/8 or 7/8, with the eight notes typically being of the same length. Since some counts have two and some have three, it’s considered irregular. Depending on the placement of the final beat, it is able to create diverse atmospheres, as well as contrasting accents in the performance. This is one of the pivotal reasons that irregular timing is utilised in musical composition.
How are Time Signatures used in Music?
As mentioned before in this article, they are used creatively to produce specific moods and atmospheres with an aim to capture the audience. Once a song has been completed by means of audio production software, the time signature plays a huge role in how it sounds to the listener.
The timing of the song will also determine who will be able perform it suitably. This rings true for various genres of music. If you take a dance music song, you cannot put together a 6/8 timing on it and expect it to be performed like other songs that make use of 2/4 timing. The measures determines how the notes move, in addition to how people respond to them.
The 6/8 timing has been constructed with the intention of taking things slow, which is why it’s considered to be a romantic time signature. It has a gentle swing in between the beats, which make the time signature more precise in the mix, this gradually elevates the slowness of the song. It almost allows people to forget that the song is slow. Without a time signature, songs would lose their energy to move across the piece, and stay in control.
Stress in music production is really important to emphasize a certain portion of a song; this is made possible through the use of time signatures. This can be explained with the help of the downbeat, which is frequently used in songs. For example, the first beat is quiet often stressed, however, in the reggae genre of music, the offbeat is stressed. In time signatures where there are four groups in the bar, the third beat is also often stressed.
The stressing of the beat gives away portions of emphasis on the song. Proper use of time signature is the only way that this can be achieved in terms of the musical accent of a project. Giving that extra energy and adding the imperfect swing at the start or at the end of the note can make a huge difference to the overall quality of the music.
The use of Connotations are Powerful in using Time Signatures
When you inspect all of the time signatures available, both simple and compound, you will find that they are equivalent. You can easily rewrite a piece that was originally in 4/4 into 4/8. This can be done by simply identifying the length of the notes. Rewriting other time signatures are also possible. Most commonly a simple time signature with triplets, such as the 3/4 can effortlessly be translated into compound timing.
Even though these are interchangeable for a composer or performer, different time signatures have different connotations. When you have a smaller note value in performance, it forces you to have a harder practice session, which has the potential to affect the ease of the performance. Beaming again and again with smaller notes will have an effect on the actual beat divisions.
Ultimately, how the music speaks with the audience is more important than in what time signature it has been written. This is the best way to look at these concepts, rather than arguing about whether or not you should use simple time or compound time. There is an amazing saying, which hold a considerable amount of truth in the modern-day trap about the usage of samples; “if it works, it works”. If the beat syncopates properly with the time signature, in conjunction with the message of the song, you don’t have to tinker with it at all.
How to Learn Time Signatures
If you want to learn about time signatures, learning through reading books or blog posts is not going to help you grasp the deeper meaning of them and how to use them correctly. Even if you try to understand the theory part of it, when it comes to executing them in real life, you will struggle a great deal to understand how each note or time signature sounds. Even though both are of value, practical experience is more important than theoretical knowledge when it comes to gaining a deeper understanding of time signatures.
If you are already in the process of learning an instrument, the most beneficial way to learn is through the music theory that is associated with that particular instrument. A pianist usually learns time signature when they are learning music theory along with the piano.
Reading sheet music can also lend a helping hand when learning to understand different time signatures. One of the more serious problems that people encounter when they are trying to learn time signatures, is that they are not able to identify the difference between each type of time signature.
This occurs more frequently to those who are yet to properly train their musical ear. This is also the experience when a beginner tries to understand the basics of pitch. Frequently inexperienced musicians are unable to hear the difference just yet, and everything appears to sound the same to them. Even though hiring a teacher would be a better option to learn time signature, you can save a considerable amount of money if you can learn online.
Learning online has its advantages as well as disadvantages. If you learn online, you will not have the same level of motivation, accountability or instant feedback that you otherwise will have from an actual teacher . An offline teacher is someone who will sit next to you, and who can guide you to learn quicker and correct your mistakes as they happen.
When you are learning online, it’s your own personal motivation and dedication to learning that makes you complete the tasks you need to do. When you are learning with a teacher offline, you are obliged to work harder, as you have already paid them money. When you are learning through an online platform, you can take your own time, and you probably won’t have to pay an extra penny. This is where the offline experience of learning through a teacher can become pretty expensive. You have to spend more to learn more.
Nowadays, online platforms are more intuitive for learning and have different components that can help you track your progress. Having said that, you have to be accountable to yourself for your own learning and ensure that you have the motivation to practice regularly and concentrate.
Udemy and Skillshare are the two giant names when it comes to looking at platforms that offer courses for learning time signatures. Both of them have a huge selection of courses on music theory where you can get started. If you want to begin with an instrument, you can choose a particular course that teaches music theory along with that specific instrument. One of the amazing things about Udemy and Skillshare is the interaction that you can have with the instructors. Many other platforms don’t include these features. You can always contact your online instructors, who can clear your mind of any doubts you may have.
Skillshare works like a Netflix subscription, which allows you to access thousands of courses for a one-time cost, whereas Udemy works on basis of a per-course cost. Sometimes, the same instructor might also be on both the platforms. In such a case as this, purchasing a Skillshare subscription makes a lot more sense.
What is a 4/4 Time Signature?
This is the most used time signature in music production. It’s employed in huge array of the songs you listen to on a daily basis. A time signature of 4/4 means that there are counts of 4 quarter notes to each bar. To explain further, the beat is counted 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. That means all the notes in each bar must add up to 4 quarter notes.
What is a 2/4 Time Signature?
When it comes to electronic dance [MA1] music 2/4 is a time signature that has been overused. A time signature of count of 2 means that there are two notes for every two beats in a bar. This signifies that the beat is counted as 1, 2, 1, 2, and so on. This means that all of the notes in each bar must add up to 2 notes.
What is a 3/4 Time Signature?
This time signature is used in almost every waltz dance music song. This time signature means that there are three beats in every measure. One-quarter note equals one beat. This can be interpreted as a beat count of 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, and so on. This means that all of the notes in each bar music add up to 3 notes.
How do you Work Out a Time Signature?
The time signature is usually represented by a top and bottom number. In the case of the top number, it explains how many beats there are in the bar. The bottom number explains how many beats it can contain in the measure. In simple words, if the time signature is 2/4 then there are two beats in the measure of 4 beats.
What is an Example of Time Signature?
Time signatures form the controlling element of a song. The time signature is expressed by means of both a numerator and a denominator. There are various types of time signatures, including: simple (such as 3/4 or 4/4), compound (e.g., 9/8 or 12/8), complex (e.g., 5/4 or 7/8), mixed (e.g., 5/8 & 3/8 or 6/8 & 3/4), additive (e.g., 3+2+3/8), fractional (e.g., 2½/4), and irrational meters (e.g., 3/10 or 5/24).
What is the 12/8 Time Signature?
This time signature is used very rarely in music. 12/8 is when there are 12 beats in a measure of 8 beats of time. Meaning that each quarter note beat consists of a group of three eighth notes (also called an eighth note triplet). With 4 beats and 3 sub-beats in each (4×3), you will get a total of 12 sub-pulses. This is the basis of what we call 12/8.
Conclusion
Learning music theory will help you to focus more on the intricate details of a song that will make it perfect for the listener. If someone asks you to compose a song of a particular genre, you will be able to understand how the genre works as soon as you listen to a few songs. This is possible because of how the basic structure of musical composition works. Music is universal because it follows the same rules and regulations, no matter which race you belong to, or which country you come from.
This holds the same truth for time signatures. They follow the same rules as will all of the rhythms you find in music. No matter if it’s Western or not, you can categorize time signatures into various formats of music. Having control of the rhythm is what gives music the flexibility to be universal. The laws and functions of music have made it instrumental in shaping the communities of the world.
If you are someone who is learning music theory, prioritize time signatures and learn them well. This will assist you in analysing any music that will be thrown at you.
[MA1]Just check if EDM was electronic dance music.
