Understanding Time Signatures: Simple and Compound

Introduction

• This lecture is part two of a series explaining time signatures.
• Focus is on differentiating between simple and compound time signatures.
• Also explores duple, triple, and quadruple time signatures.

Simple vs. Compound Time Signatures

• Simple Time Signatures:

  • Pulse can be divided into two equal inner beats.
  • Examples:
    • 4/4: Beats are crotchets; 4 crotchets per bar. Can be divided into 2 Quavers, thus simple.
    • 3/2: Beats are minims; 3 minims per bar. Each can be split into 2 crotchets, thus simple.

• Compound Time Signatures:

  • Pulse can be divided into three equal inner beats.
  • Example:
    • 6/8: 6 Quaver beats per bar, but two main pulses per bar (each pulse = 3 Quavers = 1 dotted crotchet).

Pulse vs. Beat

• Pulse is more critical than beat for identifying simple or compound nature of time signatures.
• Example:
  • 6/8 is felt as two pulses (dotted crotchets) despite the 6 Quaver beats.

Duple, Triple, Quadruple

• Duple: 2 beats/pulses per bar.

• Triple: 3 beats/pulses per bar.

• Quadruple: 4 beats/pulses per bar.

• Examples:

  • 4/4:
    • Simple quadruple time signature: 4 pulses (crotchets) per bar.
  • 3/4:
    • Simple triple time signature: 3 crotchets per bar.
  • 2/4:
    • Simple duple time signature: 2 crotchets per bar.
  • 6/8:
    • Compound duple time signature: 2 dotted crotchet pulses per bar.

Anomalies: 3/8

• Considered tricky:
  • Feels as one pulse (dotted crotchet per bar).
  • Simple triple: 3 Quaver beats per bar; each Quaver splits into 2 semiquavers.
  • Best remembered as simple triple, despite complexities.

Recap

• Simple Time Signature: Pulse divides into 2 equal inner beats.

• Compound Time Signature: Pulse divides into 3 equal inner beats.

• Duple: 2 beats/pulses per bar.

• Triple: 3 beats/pulses per bar.

• Quadruple: 4 beats/pulses per bar.

• Review common time signatures discussed.

• Note: Some common time signatures weren't covered in detail.

Conclusion

• Always refer to time signatures as either simple or compound, and as duple, triple, or quadruple.
• Stay tuned for part three which will cover less common time signatures.