The time signature of a music composition tells a musician or music reader about the beats per measure. A compound meter tells a musician that the beats will be divided into 3s or each beat of the measure divides naturally into three equal parts. Which means, each beat contains a triple pulse.
Breaking Down a Meter
The grouping of strong and weak beats is called meter. You can find the meter signature (also called time signature) at the beginning of every music piece. The time signature is the two numbers that appear like a fraction that is noted after the clef. The number on top tells you the number of beats in a measure; the number at the bottom tells you what note gets the beat.
So, for example, using a 6/8 time signature, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of three eighth notes. For those familiar with music, this would seem like two triplets.
In compound meter, the beats can be divided into three notes. For example, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, and 12/16 are examples of compound meter.
The time signatures with a “6” as the top number are known as compound duple. Time signatures with a “9” as the top number are known as a compound triple. Time signatures with a “12” as the top number are known as compound quadruple.
Examples of Compound Meter
Meter Name Meter Types Example
Compound double 6/2, 6/4, 6/8, 6/16 Using 6/8, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of 3 eighth notes.
Compound triple 9/2, 9/4, 9/8, 9/16 Using 9/8, there are 9 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 3 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound quadruple 12/2, 12/4, 12/8, 12/16 Using, 12/8, here are 12 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 4 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound Versus Simple Time Signatures
A major way that compound time signatures differ from simple time signatures is that compound time signatures tell a musician or music reader how the beats divide within a measure.
For example, if a piece of sheet music has the time signature of 3/4, that means that one measure of music has the equivalent of three-quarter notes in that measure. A quarter note is the equivalent of two eighth notes. So, that measure can have six eighth notes in it. It would seem this is the same as 6/8 time.
The difference is that if the music groups those notes together, into a triplet formation, then the time signature would best be written as 6/8 since it is a compound duple.
Popular Use of Compound Time
Compound time is associated with “lilting” and dance-like qualities. Folk dances often use compound time. There are a number of popular songs that use 6/8 time. For example, the song, “House of the Rising Sun,” by the Animals, a popular song from the 1960s, has a lilting quality to it.
Other popular songs in 6/8 time include “We Are the Champions,” by Queen, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” by Percy Sledge, and “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong.
Many Baroque dances are often in compound time: some gigues, the courante, and sometimes the passepied, and the Siciliana.
Featured Video
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
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An Introduction to the Elements of Music
The Musical Upbeat
A Primer on Playing Funk Guitar
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How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
The Top 100 Love Songs of All Time
Pop Musicians Who Died in the 2000s
Top 10 Barry Manilow Songs
The Top 40 Pop Artists of All Time
The Top 10 ABBA Songs
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The time signature of a music composition tells a musician or music reader about the beats per measure. A compound meter tells a musician that the beats will be divided into 3s or each beat of the measure divides naturally into three equal parts. Which means, each beat contains a triple pulse.
Breaking Down a Meter
The grouping of strong and weak beats is called meter. You can find the meter signature (also called time signature) at the beginning of every music piece. The time signature is the two numbers that appear like a fraction that is noted after the clef. The number on top tells you the number of beats in a measure; the number at the bottom tells you what note gets the beat.
So, for example, using a 6/8 time signature, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of three eighth notes. For those familiar with music, this would seem like two triplets.
In compound meter, the beats can be divided into three notes. For example, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, and 12/16 are examples of compound meter.
The time signatures with a “6” as the top number are known as compound duple. Time signatures with a “9” as the top number are known as a compound triple. Time signatures with a “12” as the top number are known as compound quadruple.
Examples of Compound Meter
Meter Name Meter Types Example
Compound double 6/2, 6/4, 6/8, 6/16 Using 6/8, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of 3 eighth notes.
Compound triple 9/2, 9/4, 9/8, 9/16 Using 9/8, there are 9 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 3 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound quadruple 12/2, 12/4, 12/8, 12/16 Using, 12/8, here are 12 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 4 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound Versus Simple Time Signatures
A major way that compound time signatures differ from simple time signatures is that compound time signatures tell a musician or music reader how the beats divide within a measure.
For example, if a piece of sheet music has the time signature of 3/4, that means that one measure of music has the equivalent of three-quarter notes in that measure. A quarter note is the equivalent of two eighth notes. So, that measure can have six eighth notes in it. It would seem this is the same as 6/8 time.
The difference is that if the music groups those notes together, into a triplet formation, then the time signature would best be written as 6/8 since it is a compound duple.
Popular Use of Compound Time
Compound time is associated with “lilting” and dance-like qualities. Folk dances often use compound time. There are a number of popular songs that use 6/8 time. For example, the song, “House of the Rising Sun,” by the Animals, a popular song from the 1960s, has a lilting quality to it.
Other popular songs in 6/8 time include “We Are the Champions,” by Queen, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” by Percy Sledge, and “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong.
Many Baroque dances are often in compound time: some gigues, the courante, and sometimes the passepied, and the Siciliana.
Featured Video
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
An Explanation of Simple Meter
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Common Time in Music Notation
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
An Introduction to the Elements of Music
The Musical Upbeat
A Primer on Playing Funk Guitar
Top 10 Bee Gees Songs
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
The Top 100 Love Songs of All Time
Pop Musicians Who Died in the 2000s
Top 10 Barry Manilow Songs
The Top 40 Pop Artists of All Time
The Top 10 ABBA Songs
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
The time signature of a music composition tells a musician or music reader about the beats per measure. A compound meter tells a musician that the beats will be divided into 3s or each beat of the measure divides naturally into three equal parts. Which means, each beat contains a triple pulse.
Breaking Down a Meter
The grouping of strong and weak beats is called meter. You can find the meter signature (also called time signature) at the beginning of every music piece. The time signature is the two numbers that appear like a fraction that is noted after the clef. The number on top tells you the number of beats in a measure; the number at the bottom tells you what note gets the beat.
So, for example, using a 6/8 time signature, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of three eighth notes. For those familiar with music, this would seem like two triplets.
In compound meter, the beats can be divided into three notes. For example, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, and 12/16 are examples of compound meter.
The time signatures with a “6” as the top number are known as compound duple. Time signatures with a “9” as the top number are known as a compound triple. Time signatures with a “12” as the top number are known as compound quadruple.
Examples of Compound Meter
Meter Name Meter Types Example
Compound double 6/2, 6/4, 6/8, 6/16 Using 6/8, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of 3 eighth notes.
Compound triple 9/2, 9/4, 9/8, 9/16 Using 9/8, there are 9 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 3 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound quadruple 12/2, 12/4, 12/8, 12/16 Using, 12/8, here are 12 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 4 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound Versus Simple Time Signatures
A major way that compound time signatures differ from simple time signatures is that compound time signatures tell a musician or music reader how the beats divide within a measure.
For example, if a piece of sheet music has the time signature of 3/4, that means that one measure of music has the equivalent of three-quarter notes in that measure. A quarter note is the equivalent of two eighth notes. So, that measure can have six eighth notes in it. It would seem this is the same as 6/8 time.
The difference is that if the music groups those notes together, into a triplet formation, then the time signature would best be written as 6/8 since it is a compound duple.
Popular Use of Compound Time
Compound time is associated with “lilting” and dance-like qualities. Folk dances often use compound time. There are a number of popular songs that use 6/8 time. For example, the song, “House of the Rising Sun,” by the Animals, a popular song from the 1960s, has a lilting quality to it.
Other popular songs in 6/8 time include “We Are the Champions,” by Queen, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” by Percy Sledge, and “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong.
Many Baroque dances are often in compound time: some gigues, the courante, and sometimes the passepied, and the Siciliana.
The time signature of a music composition tells a musician or music reader about the beats per measure. A compound meter tells a musician that the beats will be divided into 3s or each beat of the measure divides naturally into three equal parts. Which means, each beat contains a triple pulse.
Breaking Down a Meter
The grouping of strong and weak beats is called meter. You can find the meter signature (also called time signature) at the beginning of every music piece. The time signature is the two numbers that appear like a fraction that is noted after the clef. The number on top tells you the number of beats in a measure; the number at the bottom tells you what note gets the beat.
So, for example, using a 6/8 time signature, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of three eighth notes. For those familiar with music, this would seem like two triplets.
In compound meter, the beats can be divided into three notes. For example, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, and 12/16 are examples of compound meter.
The time signatures with a “6” as the top number are known as compound duple. Time signatures with a “9” as the top number are known as a compound triple. Time signatures with a “12” as the top number are known as compound quadruple.
Examples of Compound Meter
Meter Name Meter Types Example
Compound double 6/2, 6/4, 6/8, 6/16 Using 6/8, there are 6 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into two groups of 3 eighth notes.
Compound triple 9/2, 9/4, 9/8, 9/16 Using 9/8, there are 9 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 3 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound quadruple 12/2, 12/4, 12/8, 12/16 Using, 12/8, here are 12 eighth notes in a measure. The beats are grouped into 4 groups of 3 eighth notes
Compound Versus Simple Time Signatures
A major way that compound time signatures differ from simple time signatures is that compound time signatures tell a musician or music reader how the beats divide within a measure.
For example, if a piece of sheet music has the time signature of 3/4, that means that one measure of music has the equivalent of three-quarter notes in that measure. A quarter note is the equivalent of two eighth notes. So, that measure can have six eighth notes in it. It would seem this is the same as 6/8 time.
The difference is that if the music groups those notes together, into a triplet formation, then the time signature would best be written as 6/8 since it is a compound duple.
Popular Use of Compound Time
Compound time is associated with “lilting” and dance-like qualities. Folk dances often use compound time. There are a number of popular songs that use 6/8 time. For example, the song, “House of the Rising Sun,” by the Animals, a popular song from the 1960s, has a lilting quality to it.
Other popular songs in 6/8 time include “We Are the Champions,” by Queen, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” by Percy Sledge, and “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong.
Many Baroque dances are often in compound time: some gigues, the courante, and sometimes the passepied, and the Siciliana.
Compound Versus Simple Time Signatures
A major way that compound time signatures differ from simple time signatures is that compound time signatures tell a musician or music reader how the beats divide within a measure.
For example, if a piece of sheet music has the time signature of 3/4, that means that one measure of music has the equivalent of three-quarter notes in that measure. A quarter note is the equivalent of two eighth notes. So, that measure can have six eighth notes in it. It would seem this is the same as 6/8 time.
The difference is that if the music groups those notes together, into a triplet formation, then the time signature would best be written as 6/8 since it is a compound duple.
Popular Use of Compound Time
Compound time is associated with “lilting” and dance-like qualities. Folk dances often use compound time. There are a number of popular songs that use 6/8 time. For example, the song, “House of the Rising Sun,” by the Animals, a popular song from the 1960s, has a lilting quality to it.
Other popular songs in 6/8 time include “We Are the Champions,” by Queen, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” by Percy Sledge, and “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong.
Many Baroque dances are often in compound time: some gigues, the courante, and sometimes the passepied, and the Siciliana.
Featured Video
Featured Video
Featured Video
Featured Video
Featured Video
Featured Video
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
An Explanation of Simple Meter
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Common Time in Music Notation
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
An Introduction to the Elements of Music
The Musical Upbeat
A Primer on Playing Funk Guitar
Top 10 Bee Gees Songs
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
The Top 100 Love Songs of All Time
Pop Musicians Who Died in the 2000s
Top 10 Barry Manilow Songs
The Top 40 Pop Artists of All Time
The Top 10 ABBA Songs
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
Understanding Basic Beats and Meter
An Explanation of Simple Meter
An Explanation of Simple Meter
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Counting Musical Tuplets With Audio
Common Time in Music Notation
Common Time in Music Notation
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
Music Theory 101: Dotted Notes, Rests, Time Signatures
An Introduction to the Elements of Music
An Introduction to the Elements of Music
The Musical Upbeat
The Musical Upbeat
A Primer on Playing Funk Guitar
A Primer on Playing Funk Guitar
Top 10 Bee Gees Songs
Top 10 Bee Gees Songs
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
How to Count and Play Triplets in Music
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
The 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2000s
The Top 100 Love Songs of All Time
The Top 100 Love Songs of All Time
Pop Musicians Who Died in the 2000s
Pop Musicians Who Died in the 2000s
Top 10 Barry Manilow Songs
Top 10 Barry Manilow Songs
The Top 40 Pop Artists of All Time
The Top 40 Pop Artists of All Time
The Top 10 ABBA Songs
The Top 10 ABBA Songs
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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
