Time signature facts for kids
A time signature is like a special instruction in music. It uses two numbers, one on top of the other. You will see it right after the key signature in a song. These two numbers tell you how many notes of a certain type fit into each measure. For example, if you see 4 over 4 (written as 
), it means there are four beats in each measure. And the quarter note gets one beat.
Contents
What Time Signatures Mean
The top number in a time signature tells you how many beats are in each measure. The bottom number tells you what kind of note gets one beat. This bottom number is always a power of 2 (like 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64). So, 64 could be a bottom number, but 65 could not.
| Number on the bottom of the time signature | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1 | A whole note gets one beat |
| 2 | A half note gets one beat |
| 4 | A quarter note gets one beat |
| 8 | An eighth note gets one beat |
| 16 | A sixteenth note gets one beat |
This table shows what the bottom number means. Notice that each note type below lasts for half the time of the note type above it. For example, if a quarter note gets one beat, a half note gets half a beat.
Common Time Signatures
Some time signatures are used very often in music. Here are a few examples:
| Time signature | What it means |
|---|---|
|
Four quarter notes in each measure |
 |
Three quarter notes in each measure |
 |
Two quarter notes in each measure |
 |
Six eighth notes in each measure |
Special Symbols for Time Signatures
Sometimes, symbols are used instead of numbers for time signatures:
- The letter C is often used instead of time. This is called "common time."
- The symbol "
" is called "cut time" or alla breve. It is used instead of
time. In cut time, every note's length is cut in half. So, a quarter note, which usually gets one beat, now gets only half a beat.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Example of Orff's time signatures
See also
In Spanish: Compás (música) para niños
