Lecture Notes: Irregular Time Signatures

Introduction

• Explanation of time signatures in music.
• Focus on irregular time signatures and their calculation.
• Reference to previous parts about simple, compound, duple, triple, and quadruple time signatures.

5/8 Time Signature

• Identification: 5 quaver beats per bar.
• Pulses: Two pulses of unequal length (crotchet + dotted crotchet or vice versa).
  • Cannot be categorized as simple or compound due to mixed divisions.
  • Referred to as irregular, uneven, or asymmetrical time signature.
  • Each pulse splits into combinations of twos and threes.
  • Not classified as duple, triple, or quadruple due to unequal pulses.
  • Known as a quintuple time signature ("quintuple" = five).

5/4 Time Signature

• Characteristics: Five crotchet beats per bar.
• Famous Examples:
  • "Mars" from "The Planets" by Holst.
  • Original TV series "Mission Impossible" theme.
• Pulse Structure: Minim and dotted minim per bar or vice versa.
  • Does not split neatly into groups of two or three, making it irregular.

Septuple Time Signatures

• Common Types: 7/8 and 7/4.
• Structure of 7/8:
  • Seven Quaver beats per bar.
  • Three pulses: two groups of two quavers and one group of three.
  • Groups can appear in any order; may change between bars.
  • Can be beamed together altering pulse per bar.
• Structure of 7/4:
  • Seven crotchet beats per bar.
  • Pulse division: minim, minim, dotted minim in any order.

Music Theory Exam Tip

• Question Example:
  • Identify the correct time signature from a passage.
  • Look for groupings of quavers.
  • If mixing twos and threes, likely an irregular time signature.
  • Calculate using quavers if crotchets don't add up to a whole number.
  • Example Answer: 7/8 time signature.

Conclusion

• Recap of the understanding of irregular time signatures.
• Encouragement to explore further videos and learning resources.