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Time Signatures

Definition

Time signatures are musical notations that indicate the meter of a piece of music. They consist of two numbers, one on top of the other, with the top number representing the number of beats per measure and the bottom number indicating which note value receives one beat.

Related terms

Meter: The organization of beats into regular groups or patterns.

Beats Per Measure: The number of beats contained within each measure.

Tempo: The speed at which a piece is performed.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.