(continued)

Musica

So then, what does all this have anything to do with a time signature? Well, a lot. I'll show you how all this is implemented into the time signature. Remember when I showed you that the top number in a time signature shows the number of beats each measure gets? For example, in 4/4, 4/2, 4/8 time signatures, we have four beats in the measure. The bottom number shows the musician which division or note gets the beat. In a 4/4 time signature, the quarter notes gets the beat. Since there are four beats in a measure, there are four quarter notes in a measure in a 4/4 time signature. In a 3/4 time signature, we have three beats to the measure and each quarter note gets a beat - so there are three quarter notes in each measure, or six eighth note.

In, a 2/2 time signature there are two beats to a measure and a half note gets a beat. Therefore there are two half notes in a measure. In a 4/2 time signature, there are four beats to a measure and a half note gets a beat. Thus, there are four half notes in a measure, or eight quarter notes or sixteen eighth notes in a measure. Or two whole notes...heehee, just had to add that there. How many eighth notes are there in a measure with a 3/8 time signature? Answer: 3. The three in 3/8 tells us there are three beats to a measure and the eight tells us that the eighth note gets a beat, therefore there are three eighth notes to a measure.

Okay, in order for you to learn rhythm and tempo to a pretty good degree, you must participate in some hands-on activities. One of the least favorite but necessary activies almost all musicians must do is clap and count. During this activity, your counting stays steady. But your clapping varies in terms of the music. All the clapping and counting you'll do in Lesson #2: Basic Rhythm will be in 4/4, to make it easier. To begin, click next to continue.