Episode 37 walks through meter and time signature.
Episode 37 walks through meter and time signature. Get some tips on identifying simple and compound (1:40) then for duple, triple and quadruple (1:58). Listen to examples of simple meter rhythmic patterns (4:00) and compound meter rhythmic patterns (4:45).
Question of the day: Can you classify the meter of the time signature ¾? (6:11)
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Hi and welcome to the APsolute Recap: Music Theory Edition. Today’s episode will recap Rhythmic Patterns
Lets Zoom out:
We’re in Unit 1 Music Fundamentals I
Topics 1.7 & 1.8
Our Big idea is rhythm
In order to understand how rhythmic patterns organically occur, you first need to look at how meter and time signatures are organized. We’ll take a look at classifying simple and compound meters, and then examples of rhythmic patterns that happen within each.
Lets Zoom in:
There are two types of meter: simple and compound, which is determined by how the beat is divided. Meter is also categorized by the relationship of the beat to the measure. The beat can be grouped in duple, triple and quadruple beat measures. When you identify the meter, you identify the beat division, and then the grouping. For example, common time, or 4/4 time would be simple quadruple. The quarter note divides into two eighth notes, and there are four beats per measure. An example of compound meter would be 9/8. Here the eighth notes are grouped in three, and there are three main beats per measure making it compound triple.
A time signature is what shows the meter. The top number signifies the number of beats per measure, which can be macro or micro. Simple meters will have these numbers on top: 2, 3,
or 4 and compound will have these numbers on top: 6, 9, or 12. The top number can also show if a meter is duple: 2 or 6, triple: 3 or 9, or quadruple: 4 or 12.
The bottom number signifies what equals one beat. For example, an eight would show that an eighth note gets one beat, a four shows a quarter note gets one beat, a two shows a half note gets one beat, and so on.
In any given time signature, there are strong and weak beats. The first beat of the measure is going to be strong in any meter. In common time, beat three would be the second strongest beat.
There are only so many variations of rhythmic patterns, that it would be wise to have practice reading and internalizing examples to help with readily identifying them for performance or an exam.
When writing these patterns, you should make sure that the eighth notes are beams in grouping that show where the down beats are. There are some occasions where rhythms are not performed exactly as notated, as in swing music. Otherwise, you should execute the rhythm exactly as written unless there are directions in the music that specifies a style.
Here are some examples of simple meter rhythmic patterns. For extra practice, you could use these excerpts as dictations.
Time signature 2/4
Time signature ¾
Time signature 4/4 also known as common time
Here are some examples of compound meter rhythmic patterns Again you can decide to write these down as a dictation.
Time signature 6/8
Time signature 9/8
Time signature 12/8
To recap……
Simple meters have a 2, 3, or 4 on top and compound meters will have 6, 9, or 12 on top. Duple and quadruple meters will have the top number divisible by two, and triple meter will have a top number divisible by three and not two at all. Rhythmic patterns in simple meter will have eighth notes grouped in multiples of two, and in compound meter will be eighth notes in multiples of three.
Coming up next on the Apsolute RecAP Music Theory Edition: Key Relationships
Today’s Question of the day is about meter
Question: Can you classify the meter of the time signature ¾?