Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

(Barré) #1

13: Meter


2/4 Time


Another fairly common time signature, though not as common as 4/4.
Again, notice how easily this example falls into the pattern of 2 beats per
measure.

Example 13.3 A few measures of Twinkle, twinkle in 2/4 time.


3/4 Time


If you’ve ever heard a waltz, or danced a waltz, you’ve heard the 3/4
pattern. It has a strong pulse on the first beat of each measure.

Example 13.4 A few measures of My Country, ‘Tis of Thee in 3/4 time.


Moving On


Now that you’ve learned meters, and what the numbers mean, it’s now
time to learn a system for counting notes and rests so that you can figure
out how rhythms in a piece of music sound.
But first, the chapter review.

Quarter note gets one beat.

2 beats per measure.

Twin - kle twin - kle lit - tle star,

Quarter note gets one beat.

3 beats per measure.

My coun - try ‘tis of thee,
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