Time Signatures
Two stacked numbers at the start of a piece that tell you exactly how to count every measure that follows.
Top number: beats per measure
The top number of a time signature tells you how many beats fit in each measure. In 3/4, that's 3 beats per measure. In 4/4, it's 4.
Bottom number: which note is the beat
The bottom number tells you which note value counts as one beat. A 4 means the quarter note is the beat. An 8 means the eighth note is the beat. So 4/4 reads as "4 quarter-note beats per measure," and 6/8 reads as "6 eighth-note beats per measure."
Common questions
What does the top number of a time signature mean?
How many beats are in each measure.
What does the bottom number of a time signature mean?
Which note value counts as one beat — 4 for quarter note, 8 for eighth note.
What is the most common time signature?
4/4, or common time — 4 quarter-note beats per measure, used in most pop, rock, and folk music.
Can a time signature change in the middle of a song?
Yes — a new one can appear at any measure and applies until it changes again.
Lock into any time signature
Melody Monkey's backing tracks run in any meter you need — free to try.
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