| After learning simple music theory such as the | | | | to just count the eighth note groups as if they were |
| different types of notes and what the stave, time | | | | just one big beat. This means that in a rapidly moving |
| signature and clef symbols are you are then ready to | | | | piece of sheet music written in 6/8 time you would |
| delve further into learning about the different types of | | | | have two separate pulses. |
| time that are found in music. Put simply the three types | | | | The first one will be on the first of the eighth notes and |
| are simple, compound and irregular times. Simple time is | | | | will be a strong one. The second will be lighter and will |
| the easiest to identify. | | | | hit on the fourth of the eighth notes. This will leave you |
| In simple time the top number will always be a 2,3 or 4 | | | | with two countable beats for each bar. Each of these |
| denoting that there will be that many beats per bar. | | | | two beats will then be able to divide into three. This |
| This is very straight forward and is easy for beginning | | | | benefit to 6/8 time is what helps it to be an almost |
| music students to pick up making it a good choice for | | | | perfect marching tempo. As a matter of fact, many of |
| beginner bands. The next type of time, compound, is | | | | the early 20th century military marches were written in |
| also relatively easy to distinguish. It will be a number | | | | this time signature. |
| that is greater than four, but at the same time it must | | | | Most of the time you will find 6/8 time described as |
| be divisible by three. | | | | having two dotted quarter notes per bar rather than |
| When you examine compound time you will notice that | | | | having six eighth notes per bar. Some of the other |
| the notes will normally be grouped in threes. One | | | | compound time signatures include 12/8 and 9/8 time. In |
| example of this can be found in 6/8 time where you | | | | 12/8 time you will find four groups total. This means |
| will find two groups of three eighth notes each. You | | | | there would be four dotted quarter notes for each bar. |
| can also find many different combinations of these. | | | | In 9/8 time you will find three groups of three eighth |
| You might find two quarter notes and two eighth | | | | notes which will be represented by three dotted |
| notes together in one bar or you might find two dotted | | | | quarter notes for each bar. |
| quarter notes. You could also find a dotted half note. | | | | The last type of time is irregular time. The top number |
| While this may seem rather easy in and of itself it can | | | | will always be higher than four but it must not be |
| be a bit tricky. If you were only counting the beats in | | | | divisible by three. Some examples of irregular time |
| slow music you would find it rather easy. Faster music | | | | signatures includes 7/4 and 5/8 time. |
| can be a good deal harder however. It is much easier | | | | |