UNIT 3: SIMPLE TIME SIGNATURES
Key Unit Competence: Be able to sol-fa respecting the simpletime signatures.
Introductory Activity
Analyze the following fractions:, and1. What is the meaning of both numerators and denominators inThe time signature (also known as meter signature, or measure signature)
Mathematics?
2. In Music, relate the above fractions to the grouping of notes indifferent bars
is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how
many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note
value is equivalent to a beat.
In a music score, the time signature appears at the beginning as a time
symbol or stacked numerals, immediately following the key signature (or
immediately following the clef symbol if the key signature is empty). A midscore
time signature, usually immediately following a bar line, indicates a
change of meter.(Emmons, 2008)
Simple time signatures consist of two numerals, one stacked above the
other. The lower numeral indicates the note value that represents one beat
(the beat unit). This number is typically a power of two. The upper numeral
indicates how many such beats constitute a bar.
The measure or bar is the group of notes, rests or notes and rests written
between two bars of measure. The bars of measures are the vertical lines
on the staff that separate the measures. On the staff the bar line of measure
starts from the fifth line and stops on the first line. At the end of piece ofmusic, we put a double bar of measure.
3.1. Dotted notes and rests
Activity 3.1
In the previous unit, you have seen the notes and their values
1. a. Write the following and associate each with its related value:• A semibreveb. If a dot written on the right of each note equal the half value of it.
• A crotchet
• A quaver rest
Do it to the previous notes and calculate the values obtained.
2. Draw a musical staff and put the following notes:A dotted minim, a quaver, a dotted crotchet, a semi quaver and a
two dotted minima, two dotted crotchet rest, a dotted minim rest,
a dotted quaver rest. a dotted crotchet rest, a dotted quaver rest
In Western musical notation, a dotted note or rest is a note or rest with a
small dot written to the right of it. In modern practice, the first dot increasesthe duration of the basic note or rest by half of its original value.
Application activity 3.1
1. Differentiate the dotted and undotted notes and rests
2. What do you take into consideration when writing dotted notes in
a musical staff?
3.2 Two four time (Simple duple meter)\
Activity 3.2
1. Given a crotchet as basic rhythm. How many crotchet notes will be
put in a bar of simple duple time signature?
2. Draw musical staffs and add notes respecting the two four-time signature.
The ‘2’ tell us that there are 2 beats in every bar
The ‘4’ tell us that each beat is one quarter note long
In simple Two Four time, there are two beats in a bar. The first beat is stressed/
strong(accented) while the second is lighter/weak(Unaccented).Here below, it is shown the way of beating the above measure
Application activity 3.2
1. How many beats are there in a bar of simple duple time signature
2. Draw the conducting pattern of two four meter
3. Sight sing the following melody respecting two four-time signaturewith its conducting pattern:
3.3 Three four time (Simple triple meter)
Activity 3.3
1. Given a crotchet as basic rhythm. How many quaver notes will be
put in a bar of simple triple time signature?
2. Draw musical staffs and add notes and rests respecting the threefour-time signature.
In simple three four time, there are three beats in a bar. The first beat is
stressed/strong (accented) while other two are lighter/weak (Unaccented).Here below, it is shown the way of beating the above measure
Application activity 3.3
1. How many beats are there in a bar of simple triple time signature?
2. Draw the conducting pattern of three four meter.
3. Sight sing the following melody respecting three four-timesignature with its conducting pattern:
3.4 Four four-time (Simple quadruple meter)
Activity 3.4
1. Given a crotchet as basic rhythm. How many minim notes will be
put in a bar of simple quadruple meter?
2. Draw musical staffs and add notes respecting the four four-time signature.
In simple Four four time, there are four beats in a bar. The first beat is stressed/
strong (accented), the second beat isgetting lighter/weak (Unaccented)
while other two are lighter/weak.Here below, it is shown the way of beating the above measure
Complete measure: all measures of a piece must be complete, with the
exception of the first and the last measure if there is anacrusis. It means
that all measures must have the number of time designated by the time
signature.The anacrusis:
By definition, the anacrusis is a note or series of notes that comes before
the first complete measure of a composition; an introductory (and optional)
measure that does not hold the number of beats expressed by the time
signature. The anacrusis prepares your ears for the next measure’s downbeat
and is therefore sometimes referred to as the ‘upbeat’ In traditional notation,
the amount of beats in the anacrusis is taken out of the very last measure of
the song to even out the difference.
Sometimes, the anacrusis is an incomplete measure by which can start a
piece of music. This incomplete measure should be completed by the lastmeasure.
Application activity 3.4
1. How many beats are there in a bar of simple quadruple time
signature?
2. Draw the conducting pattern of four four-meter.
3. Sight sing the following melody respecting four four-time signaturewith its conducting pattern:
End unit assessment 3
1. What is anacrusis?
2. In time signature, there are two numerals. What are they standing for?
3. How many beats are there in:
a. A bar of four four-time
b. Three bars of simple triple meter
c. Six bars of two four time
4. Draw the conducting pattern of:
a. Simple triple meter
b. Four four-time
5. Respecting the simple time signature, sight sing the followingmelody:
