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.
| 2 beats | 3 beats | 4 beats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minim beats | 2/2 | 3/2 | 4/2 |
| Crotchet beats | 2/4 | 3/4 | 4/4 |
| Quaver beats | 3/8 |
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:
- 3/2 holds three minims, which is 6 crotchet beats.
- The semibreve takes 4.
- 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.
This question is in Brainlag Plus