What is Time Signature?
Also called: meter
A time signature tells you how beats are grouped in each bar of music. The top number is how many beats are in a bar and the bottom number is which note value counts as one beat.
4/4 is by far the most common time signature in pop, rock, hip hop and electronic music: four quarter note beats per bar. 3/4 has three beats per bar and gives the lilting feel of a waltz.
Time signatures with 8 on the bottom, such as 6/8 and 12/8, are usually felt in groups of three eighth notes. A bar of 6/8 has six eighth notes but is felt as two big beats, which is different from 3/4.
Odd time signatures like 5/4 and 7/8 combine groups of two and three, which gives them their uneven, forward moving feel.
Example
Count a bar of 4/4 as 1 2 3 4, a bar of 3/4 as 1 2 3, and a bar of 6/8 as 1 2 3 4 5 6 with the weight on 1 and 4.
Put it to work
Set any tempo and time signature on a free online metronome.
Online Metronome