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=== Examples === In the examples below, '''bold''' denotes the primary stress of the measure, and ''italics'' denote a secondary stress. Syllables such as "and" are frequently used for pulsing in between numbers. ''Simple'': {{music|time|3|4}} is a simple [[triple meter]] time signature that represents three quarter notes (crotchets), usually perceived as three beats. In this case the subdivision would be the eighth note (quaver). It is felt as ::<big>{{music|time|3|4}}</big>: '''one''' and ''two'' and ''three'' and ... ''Compound'': Most often, <big>{{music|time|6|8}}</big> is felt as two beats, each being a dotted quarter note (crotchet), and each containing subdivisions of three eighth notes (quavers). It is felt as ::<big>{{music|time|6|8}}</big>: '''one''' two three ''four'' five six ... The table below shows the characteristics of the most frequently used time signatures. {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="4" style="background: Silver" | Simple time signatures |- ! Time signature ! Common uses ! Simple drum pattern !Video representation |- | align="center" | <big>{{music|time|4|4}}</big> or {{music|common-time}} (quadruple) || ''Common time'': Widely used in [[classical music]] and most forms of [[popular music]]. Most common time signature in [[Rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[country music|country]], [[funk]], and [[Pop music|pop]].<ref>Scott Schroedl, ''Play Drums Today! A Complete Guide to the Basics: Level One '' (Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, 2001), p. 42. {{ISBN|0-634-02185-0}}.</ref> ||<score> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' g, d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a a a } } >></score>[[File:Characteristic rock drum pattern.mid]] |[[File:Video_for_4o4_at_60_bpm.ogv|frameless|140x105px]] |- | align="center" | <big>{{music|time|2|2}}</big> or {{music|cut-time}} (duple) || ''[[Alla breve]]'', ''cut time'': Used for [[march (music)|march]]es and fast orchestral music. ||<score> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 2/2 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 2 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g2 d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a4 a a a } } >></score>[[File:Half time rock pattern.mid]] | |- | align="center" |<big>{{music|time|2|4}}</big> (duple) || Used for [[polka]]s, [[galop]]s, [[March (music)|marches]], and many styles of [[Latin music]] (including [[bolero]], [[cumbia]], and [[Merengue music|merengue]]). ||<score> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 2/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a } } >></score>[[File:Simple duple drum pattern.mid]] |[[File:Video for 2o4 at 60 bpm.ogv|frameless|140x105px]] |- | align="center" | <big>{{music|time|3|4}}</big> (triple) || {{anchor|Waltz}}<!-- [[Waltz time]] redirects here --> Used for [[waltz (music)|waltz]]es, [[minuet]]s, [[scherzo|scherzi]], [[polonaise (dance)|polonaise]]s, [[mazurka]]s, country & western ballads, R&B, and some pop ||<score> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 3/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 100 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4 d' d } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8[ a] a[ a] a[ a] } } >></score>[[File:Simple triple drum pattern.mid]] |[[File:Video for 3o4 at 60 bpm.ogv|frameless|140x105px]] |- | align="center" | <big>{{music|time|3|8}}</big> (triple) || Also used for the above but usually suggests higher tempo or shorter [[Metre (music)#Hypermetre|hypermeter]]. Sometimes preferred for certain folk dances such as [[cachucha]] ||<score lang="lilypond"> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 3/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g8 d' d } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a16[ a] a[ a] a[ a] } } >></score>[[File:Simple triple drum pattern.mid]] | |- ! colspan="4" style="background: Silver" | Compound time signatures |- ! Time signature ! Common uses ! Simple drum pattern ! Video representation |- | align="center" | <big>{{music|time|6|8}}</big> (duple) || Double [[jig]]s, [[Jota (music)|jotas]], [[zortziko]]s, polkas,<!--Polka is also claimed under 2/4 time. RESPONSE: polkas can use either 2/4 or 6/8, depending on the subdivision of the beats (since both are duple time signatures)--> [[sega music|sega]], [[salegy]], [[tarantella]], [[March (music)|marches]], [[barcarolle]]s, [[loure]]s, and some rock music. [[Anapestic tetrameter]] poetry also fits into {{music|time|6|8}} time when said aloud. ||<score> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 6/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4. d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a } } >></score>[[File:Compound duple drum pattern.mid]] |[[File:Video of 6o8 at 90 bpm.ogv|frameless|140x105px]] |- | align="center" | <big>{{music|time|9|8}}</big> (triple) || ''Compound triple time'': Used in [[slip jig]]s; otherwise occurring rarely ("[[The Ride of the Valkyries]]", [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Symphony No. 4 (Tchaikovsky)|Fourth Symphony]], and the final movement of [[Johann Sebastian Bach|J.S. Bach]]'s [[Violin Concerto in A minor (Bach)|Violin Concerto in A minor (BWV 1041)]] are familiar examples. [[Claude Debussy|Debussy]]'s "[[Clair de lune (Debussy)|Clair de lune]]" and the opening bars of ''[[Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune]]'' are also in <big>{{music|time|9|8}})</big> ||<score> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 9/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4. d' d } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a a a a } } >></score>[[File:Compound triple drum pattern.mid]] |[[File:Video for 9o8 at 90 bpm.ogv|frameless|140x105px]] |- | align="center" | <big>{{music|time|12|8}}</big> (quadruple) || Also common in slower [[blues]] (where it is called a ''[[shuffle note|shuffle]]'') and [[doo-wop]]; also used more recently in rock music. Can also be heard in some jigs like "[[The Irish Washerwoman]]". This is also the time signature of ''Scene by the Brook'', the second movement of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s ''[[Symphony No. 6 (Beethoven)|Pastoral Symphony]]''. ||<score> \new Staff << \new voice \relative c' { \clef percussion \numericTimeSignature \time 12/8 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4. = 80 \stemDown \repeat volta 2 { g4. d' g, d' } } \new voice \relative c'' { \override NoteHead.style = #'cross \stemUp \repeat volta 2 { a8 a a a a a a a a a a a } } >></score>[[File:Compound quadruple drum pattern.mid]] |[[File:Video for 12o8 at 90 bpm.ogv|frameless|140x105px]] |}
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