Simple Meter
2/4, 3/4, 4/4 — different numbers of beats per measure, but every beat still splits neatly into two.
What makes a meter "simple"
A time signature is simple meter when each beat divides naturally into two equal parts — a quarter-note beat splits into two eighth notes. 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 are the three simple meters you'll meet constantly; they differ only in how many beats fill each measure.
Feel the difference
2/4 feels like a march: ONE-two, ONE-two. 3/4 feels like a waltz: ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three. 4/4 — sometimes called common time — is the most familiar feel in pop and rock: ONE-two-three-four.
Common questions
What makes a meter "simple"?
Each beat divides naturally into two equal parts, like a quarter note splitting into two eighths.
What is the difference between 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4?
Only the number of beats per measure — 2, 3, and 4. All three still split each beat in two.
What does 3/4 feel like?
A waltz feel — ONE-two-three — with an accent every 3rd beat.
Is 4/4 called anything else?
Yes, "common time," sometimes notated with a large C instead of 4/4.
Play along in any meter, instantly
Melody Monkey's backing tracks lock in to 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 on demand — free to try.
Open the metronome →Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about Simple Meter →