Grade Two Music Theory Lesson 9: Simple Time Signatures
Quick Time Signatures Review
In Grade One Music Theory we learnt three time signatures: 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4. We learnt that the lower number "4" tells us that we need to count crotchet (quarter note) beats and that the top number tells us how many beats to count.
So, 2/4 means "count 2 crotchets per bar", 3/4 means "count 3 crotchets per bar" and 4/4 means "count 4 crotchets per bar".
New for Grade Two Music Theory
In Grade Two Music Theory, we have some new time signatures to look at.
First, let's look at 2/2, 3/2 and 4/2.
The lower number "2" tells us to count minims (half notes). 2/2 means "count two minims per bar", 3/2 means "count three minims per bar" and 4/2 means "count four minims per bar".
And finally, we need to know 3/8. The lower number number 8 tells us to count quavers (eighth notes), so 3/8 means "count three quavers per bar".
Types of Question
In the Grade Two Music Theory exam, you might get a question asking you something like this:
Complete this sentence: The time signature 2/4 means that there are two ........... beats in a bar.
We need to figure out what kind of beats - so we look at the lower number. The lower number is "4", which means "crotchet" beats. So, the correct answer is "The time signature 2/4 means that there are two crotchet beats in a bar.
Writing Time Signatures
In a typed page like this one, it's ok to write out time signatures as two numbers with a slash between them, like so - 3/8. BUT when you write time signature on a stave, in your music theory exam you should make sure you don't write them like this! On a stave, time signatures should be written one number directly above the other and without a slash or line, like so:
Examples
Here are some short tunes using the new time signatures from the grade two music theory syllabus. Click the arrow to hear them.
