1. BASIC RUDIMENTS
Simple Time

2. Music is divided into measures which are separated by barlines.
double
bar line
(end)
barline
measure/bar
barline
The time signature is placed after the clef.

3. 3 beats in each bar =
The upper number of the time signature tells us the number of beats in each bar.
The lower number of the time signature tells us the note value that gets one beat. = = =

4. When the upper number of the time signature is
2, 3 or 4, the music is in simple time.
When the top number is 2, the time is simple duple.
When the top number is 3, the time is simple triple.
When the top number is 4, the time is simple quadruple.

5. In simple duple time, there are 2 beats per bar.
half note gets one beat
quarter note gets one beat
eighth note gets one beat

6. This time is also called Cut Time.
This symbol is sometimes used instead of .
This time is also called Cut Time.

7. In simple triple time, there are 3 beats per bar.
half note gets one beat
quarter note gets one beat
eighth note gets one beat

8. In simple quadruple time, there are 4 beats per bar.
half note gets one beat
quarter note gets one beat
eighth note gets one beat

9. This time is also called Common Time.
This symbol is sometimes used instead of .
This time is also called Common Time.

10. WRITE IT RIGHT!
Each number in a time signature takes up two staff spaces:
The “C” in the Common and Cut Time symbols takes up the two middle spaces of the staff.

11. > w > w > w > w
In every time signature, the strongest accent always occurs on the first beat of the bar.
Simple duple accent pattern: Strong – weak
> w > w > w > w
| | | ||
Simple triple accent pattern: Strong – weak - weak
> w w > w w > w w > w w
| | | ||
Simple quadruple accent pattern:
Strong – weak – medium - weak
> w m w > w m w > w m w
| | ||

12. Notes are grouped according to the time signature
Notes are grouped according to the time signature. Although there are exceptions, flagged notes are generally beamed together in groups to equal one beat.

13. When music doesn’t begin on a strong beat, an incomplete bar is added at the beginning. This will place the accent correctly on the first beat of each bar.
w > (w) m w > w m (w) > (w) (m)
Incomplete bar
1 beat
Incomplete bar
3 beats
The remainder of the partial bar is always found at the end of the piece.

14. Irregular three-note groups called triplets may be found in simple time.
Triplets take the time of two notes of the same value. = = = = = =

15. The End