Music Meter Types Flashcards

Types of Meters

• Three main types of meters: simple, compound, and irregular.

Simple Meter

• Beat divided into two parts.
• Time signature top numbers: 2, 3, or 4 indicate simple meter.

Compound Meter

• Beat divided into three parts.
• Time signature top numbers: 6, 9, or 12 indicate compound meter.

Irregular Meter

• Characterized by time signatures where the top number is 5, 7, or 11.

Duple Meter

• Consists of two beats per measure.

Triple Meter

• Contains three beats per measure.

Quadruple Meter

• Comprises four beats per measure.

Simple Meter Duple

• Features two beats per measure (duple) with each beat divided into two equal parts.

Counting Simple Duple

• Two quarter notes: counted as "one, two".
• Four eighth notes: counted as "one and two and".
• Eight sixteenth notes: counted as "one e and a, two e and a".

Time Signatures for Duple

• Top number always two, commonly 2/8, 2/4, 2/2.
• Indicates each measure contains two beats.

Cut Time (2/2)

• Represents cut time, indicated by a C with a vertical line through it.

Simple Meter Triple

• Includes three beats per measure with each divided into two parts.

Counting Simple Triple

• Three beats: counted as "ONE, TWO, THREE".
• Full count: "ONE and TWO and THREE and" and "ONE e and a".

Conducting in Triple Meter

• Conducting pattern: hand starts raised, down for beat 1, right for beat 2, back up for beat 3.

Time Signatures for Triple Simple

• Top number always three; common time signatures include 3/8, 3/4, and 3/2.

Tempo Consistency

• Different meter signatures can sound the same if tempo is consistent.

Pickup Measure

• Beginning with an upbeat means starting conducting with an upbeat rather than a downbeat.

Simple Quadruple Meter

• Four beats per measure, each divided into two parts.

Counting Simple Quadruple

• Counts as "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR".
• Full counting examples: "ONE and TWO and THREE and FOUR and," and "ONE e and a TWO e and a THREE e and a FOUR e and a".

Conducting in Quadruple Meter

• Conducting pattern: start raised, down for beat 1, sway left for beat 2, right for beat 3, back up for beat 4.

Time Signature for Simple Quadruple

• Top number is four; common signatures include 4/8, 4/4, and 4/2.
• Indicates four beats per measure.

4/4 Meter

• Known as common time; symbol C derived from medieval notation practices indicating "imperfect time".

Double Whole Note

• Also known as "breve", equal to two whole notes.

Overview of Compound Meter

• Beat is divided into three equal parts.