Now try this one....
ch" ch#ch# ch" ch#ch# ch" ch#ch
Do you notice the change in feel. This is because the “chs” are now grouped in 3s giving a
totally different groove to the piece. It now feels more like a waltz.
If we were going to write this in sheet music we would need 2 things:
- A Time Signature
The time signature is made up of 2 numbers (one on top of the other) found at the begin-
ning of the stave. It shows how many beats are in a bar and what type of beats they are.
Top Number - The top number is easy to understand. If it is a “2” then you should count
the pulse in groups of 2 and each bar should add up to 2. If it is a “3” then the pulse will be
counted in groups of 3 and each bar will add up to 3. If it is a “4”, etc...... You get the idea.
Bottom Number - The bottom number is slightly more tricky to understand. The bottom
number tells you what type of beats they are. (Hold that thought as we will return to it in
the next chapter.)
- Barlines
These show where the groupings are divided....
ch" ch#ch#ch | ch" ch#ch#ch