Time Signatures

Time signatures show how many beats are in a measure and what type of note receives the beat (lasts for one beat).

In simple time:

The top number represents the number of beats in a measure.
The bottom number indicates what note value represents one beat. Think of the bottom note as a fraction with the numerator being a 1.

Time Signatures appear at the beginning of a piece of music and any time there is a meter change.
Time Signatures look like a fraction but without the dividing line.

Examples

 = 2 beats per measure; quarter note receives the beat

 = 3 beats per measure; quarter note receives the beat

 = 4 beats per measure; quarter note receives the beat

 = 2 beats per measure; half note receives the beat

 = 3 beats per measure; half note receives the beat

 = 3 beats per measure; eighth note receives the beat

 = 6 beats per measure; eighth note receives the beat

 = 9 beats per measure; eighth note receives the beat

 = 12 beats per measure; eighth note receives the beat

To review Meter and Measures see Understanding Meter.