In music, time signature means: The two numbers at the start of a piece that show how many beats are in each bar and which note value gets one beat, for example 3/4 or 6/8.
In Turkish: ölçü sayısı, ölçü rakamı
How it is used
Read aloud as two numbers: 4/4 is 'four-four' (also 'common time'), 3/4 is 'three-four', 7/8 is 'seven-eight'. Musicians say a piece is 'in 6/8' and talk about 'odd' or 'irregular' time signatures.
Example sentences
The time signature changes from 4/4 to 7/8 in the bridge.
Many Turkish folk songs use time signatures like 9/8 and 7/8.
Common collocations
in 4/4 time
odd time signature
change time signature
common time
compound time signature
Related terms
barA short section of music that contains a fixed number of beats, shown on the page between two vertical lines called bar lines.
beatThe steady pulse that you tap your foot to in a piece of music. Beats are grouped into bars, and their speed is the tempo.
rhythmThe pattern of long and short sounds and silences in music, and how they are placed in time against the beat.
key signatureThe group of sharps or flats written at the start of every staff, just after the clef, that shows the key of the piece and which notes are always raised or lowered.
syncopationPlacing accents on weak beats or between beats instead of on the strong beats, which makes a rhythm feel surprising and lively.
