Cut Time

Overview

Cut Time Meter is a simple duple meter. Each beat is divided into 2 equal parts and there are 2 beats per measure.

For more review on types of meter go to Understanding Meter.

The time signature for cut time can be either  or 𝄵 .

To review time signatures go to Understanding Time Signatures.

Cut Time vs. Common Time

What makes cut time different from common time is that the half note is equal to one beat instead of the quarter note. This means that cut time music looks a lot like common time but it is played twice as fast. The quarter note is the division of the beat and lasts only ½ of a beat.

Common Time

play_circle  𝅗𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

Cut Time

play_circle  𝅗𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

Examples of Cut Time Rhythms

Below are a few examples of rhythms in Cut Time.

Basic Cut Time Rhythms with Half and Quarter Notes

play_circle 𝄵 𝅗𝅥   𝅗𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅗𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥   𝅗𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝅗𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

Basic Cut Time Rhythms with Eighth Notes

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥    𝅘𝅥    𝄂

play_circle 𝄵  𝅘𝅥    𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥  𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥  𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥  𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥    𝅘𝅥   𝄂

Advanced Cut Time Rhythms with Rests

play_circle 𝄵 𝄽  𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝄽  𝅘𝅥   𝄽  𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝄼  𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝄽  𝅗𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝄽   𝄽   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝄾 𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥   𝄾 𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝄾 𝅘𝅥  𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝄾 𝅘𝅥  𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝄾 𝅘𝅥𝅮  𝅘𝅥  𝅘𝅥  𝄂

Advanced Cut Time Rhythms with Dots and Ties

play_circle 𝄵 𝅗𝅥.   𝅘𝅥  𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥.  𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥.  𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥.  𝅘𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥.  𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥.  𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥  𝅘𝅥  𝄂

play_circle 𝄵 𝅘𝅥   𝅘𝅥   𝄂

play_circle 𝄵  𝄂

Return to Writing Music Identify Basic Cut Time Rhythms