Time signatures with minim and quaver beats

The bottom number is the beat

Beats are grouped into bars, each ended by a barline. In a time signature the top number says how many beats are in a bar and the bottom number says which note is the beat:

• 2 means minim beats;
• 4 means crotchet beats;
• 8 means quaver beats.

New at Grade 2: 2/2, 3/2, 4/2 and 3/8.

Minim beats

In 2/2, 3/2 and 4/2 each beat is a minim. Count them the same way as crotchet beats: 1 2, 1 2 3, 1 2 3 4. 2/2 is also written as a C with a line through it, called alla breve: two minim beats in a bar.

Quaver beats: 3/8

3/8 has three quaver beats in a bar. The three quavers are usually beamed together as one group for the whole bar.

Worked example: complete a bar of 3/2

To find a missing time signature, add up the bar in crotchets and find the time signature that holds that much. To complete a bar, work the other way:

1. 3/2 holds three minims, which is 6 crotchet beats.
2. The semibreve takes 4.
3. 2 are missing: a minim.

Tip: if the beats are minims or quavers, you can still count everything in crotchets. Just know what a full bar holds: 3/2 holds 6, 4/2 holds 8, 2/2 holds 4, 3/8 holds 1 and a half.