Time Signature
Definition
The time signature indicates the meter of a piece of music. It consists of two numbers written at the beginning of the staff, representing beats per measure and note value for each beat.
Analogy
Think of a time signature as a musical clock that tells you how many beats are in each measure and what kind of note gets one beat. Just like a clock helps you keep track of time, a time signature helps musicians stay in rhythm.
Related terms
Simple Meter: Simple meter is a type of time signature where the beat is divided into two equal parts.
Compound Meter: Compound meter is a type of time signature where the beat is divided into three equal parts.
Beats per Measure: Beats per measure refers to the number of beats contained within each measure indicated by the top number in a time signature.
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