Time Signatures Explained

Kalani explains what a time signature or meter is in music theory. Learn how to read a time signature and how different time signatures affect the feel of the rhythm.

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Kalani is a Professional Percussionist, Orff-Schulwerk Certified Music Educator and Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC). He presents classes and workshops all over the world for people of all ages.

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[wichoso]

I still don't get it! But I appreciate the video

[vidyas.]

I've played piano for 8 years, and well, here I am.

[Matthewsavant]

This helped me a bit. Tbh I’ve never understood time signatures. I can play fluidly literally anything I hear but I’ve never understood what it meant in compositional terms. I’m hoping that brushing up on this kind of stuff will bring my rhythms to another level. I’ve been drumming since age 7 and have always done it by feel, now at 37 I’ve decided to finally add some theory to my natural affinity.

[ZSGerman]

"If you have a 7/8 and 5/8 then, well, you're in a different category"

I came here looking to get a better understanding of Schism by Tool...

[NemSumeragi]

For anyone who still doesn't really get how to contextualize the numbers into rhythm, it helps for me to think of them as words rather than numbers, like this:

[Amount of beats in each bar/How you count each beat in the bars]
So 4/4 would be Four Quarter Notes.
Or 5/8 would be Five Eighth Notes.

So then when I do a rhythm like 5/8, I start hitting some Eighths, count 5 of them, and then restart at 1, because there are 5 Eighths in one bar. And there's your base rhythm.

From there it's down to either following your sheet or freestyling varying lengths in each beat while sticking to that base rhythm.

[docamitverma]

Your beat boxing explains the time signature a lot more than hundred of videos out together.

[padrejohnruffle]

60+ years ago I has my first lesson in time signatures. I've never understood them at all (and I simply play by ear). Watching your video here is the first time I've been able to get my head around time signatures - thank you!

[happylittlemonk]

Well explained. I taught myself to read seven instruments just for fun. I like to add few things here:
- 2/2 is also written as C with a vertical bar. It is played twice as fast as 4/4
- You did not mention that they reason notes are grouped in 4/4 or 6/8 etc is the "emphasis". Without that they would sound the same. So when notes are grouped in triples in 6/8 you must put an emphasis on the first note of the group, which you did by singing it but did not mention it.
- The meter also describes the length of the phrases needed to tell a story. for example 2/2 is used in marches or dances as you said where there is not story to tell but just rhythm.
- 12/8 is used a lot in flamenco where the phrase lasts for 12 notes.
- I was playing a simple piece by Handel which was all in tones and semitones but the speed was marked as Vivace which means fast and lively. However, if the speed was Andante and it was using crotchets and semi crotchets which is the most common notes it would been the same but simpler to read? No because as you said the feel of the music is very fast even though all the notes used are very slow, Let me explain it this way. Imagine you are in a panic state with a friend and want to do something quickly but do not want to disturb others, so you whisper slowly. In that case the situation is very tense and your mind is racing fast but you are talking very slowly. Or you could be very relaxed and tired but trying to tell a story very fast. That is the opposite.
- There was an attempt for a composer to remove the time signature and just use the length of the note to eliminate all the confusion. He used that in all his works. Cant remember his name

[christophertsiliacos]

3:14 “Cut time” is also denoted as the following: ₵ and is positioned where the time signature is located on the sheet music.  😉 ♫

[megatonhammer]

guitar player here who’s been wanting to understand basic principles of time signatures for a very long time. Great simple explanation that’s not too technical for a layman like me, THANK YOU!

[Weewootruck]

Ah man I spilled my noodles trying to “yah tah tah tah yah tah tah yah tah tah” in a 6/8 time signature

[paulbear]

That is the best I have ever heard that explained. Thank you.

[annemariecrosier]

Love the auditory examples. This would be outstanding with some visual aids. I play West African drums.

[aReallySwellGuy]

I’m an experienced musician but came here to better clarify my understanding of time signatures. It did a great job, thanks so much!

[andreasmaier]

Great explained! I am a 64 year old beginner. Piano. Write from Germany. Many thanks for this video. Helped me a lot to understand time signature.

[HazyJ]

J Dilla's "Don't Cry" is a great 6/8 to 4/4 example

[CJVeniot]

Something I've been wanting to understand for years, but always got frustrated trying to figure it out. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. That was some wickedly good stuff.

[marktaz]

This is stuff I'd forgotten, so thanks for reminding me about what I really should know!

[ThousandShakes]

I don't think about this when I play music at the piano anymore. But getting into LMMS, a free, open-source DSW (for anyone who wants to make up their own digital music) -I had to brush up. Well explained, thanks!

[peterv]

Time signature is like the Limit Theory in Calculus, you need to put yourself in the students shoes to really make people understand it.