How are you today, I will go straight to the point as this topic is fundamental and foundational for any musician especially singer in quote who is looking towards doing great.
I like to explain in the simplest form possible and most practical way.
A video explanation would have been there but for the main time let's do some reading.
Please note that everything here are based on experience that worked over time when applied ,just here to help.
What is a time signature?
Time signatures are those elements that determines how the rhythm of the music will go. They also determine the type of beat or even flow. Simply put,time signatures determine what type of music you want to engage in and in what direction you are headed.
When you listen to a song for the first time or want to write a song, the first thing that should come to your mind is, what time signature was this song written on?..
From there you can go further to the genres, keys, skills and etc.
There are several times signatures out there but I will talk about two for the main time.
Guess these two are more popular than all and appear in every 85 songs out of 100.
So the first time signature is 4/4 and 3/4.
So lets keep it simple as we go.
To under stand time signature you have to also know what beat is.
A beat is a single clap or hit.
So if I say two beats I mean two hits. Or claps.
You also need to know what tempo is.
A tempo determines how fast or slow the music will be.
Usually from tempo 1 to 500.
1 is probably the slowest. At 500 you are heading towards speed of lightning.lol.
So you see.
Every music has a tempo.
In some other day or time ,I will go in details but for now let me continue with time signatures.
Now we know a beat is a single hit,
We can now go ahead.
Let start will 4/4.
What 4/4 mean is that.
Have 4 beats to make a bar.
What is a bar a bar is the completing of a single round of a time signature.
For example, using your hands, clap 4 times.
Paa paa paa paa.
Should sound.
1 2 3 4
Which means you had 4 hits or beats. To make 1 bar for a 4/4 time signature. That's why you have 4/( four beats) = 4 1 bar)
So that means 8 beats or hits = 2bars.
12 beats or hits = 12bars. Please note this is for 4/4 time signature alone .
So imagine I tell. You to sing for 12 bars.
How many beats will you sing for?
Answer that your self.
Also answer these questions.
For a 4/4 time signature.
How many beats makes.
1bar
2bars
3bars
12bars
16bars.
Remember 4 beats make a bar, and a beat is a single hit or clap.
If you listen to most makosa,afrobeats, hip pop songs. You find out their time signatures are all 4/4.
The beat keeps counting like this 1.2.3.4
1.2.3.4 1.2.3.4.....
Remember the tempo can be fast or slow, depending on how they pick it.
So next time your song revolves around a 1.2.3.4. 1.2.3.4. 1.2.3.4 .... Count them know it's a 4/4
Or anytime you can count like the above on any song then it's 4/4.
Now let's go to 3/4
Just like 4/4 but for 3/4
We only have 3beats making 1bar instead 4
Always remember the difference.
3/4 = 3 beats to 1bar
4/4 = 4 beats to 1bar.
3/4 ,you count like is.
1.2.3 1.2.3 1.2.3 ....
Now if you demonstrate that with your hands you will clearly see the difference between 3/4 and 4/4.
Most gyration, ariaria, songs or gyration.
A clearer example is this popular hymn , Rock of ages cleft for me..
Sing the song along and you will see the timing is 1.2.3 1.2.3 1.2.3....
That's it's.
So here 3 beats make one bar.
6beats make 2bars.
12beats = 4 bars.
A song example for 4/4 time signature is
Twinkle twinkle little star
1. 2. 3 4 ....
Always remember tempo, so a song can be fast or slow but time signatures remain.
Most trap songs are around 3/4 or 6/4 time signature. Wouldn't want to go there.
Now you know what time signatures are.
Now decide, on your next song, do you want it to be on 3/4 or 4/4.
Task:
Drop on the comments session 3 songs that go with 3/4 and 3 songs that go with 4/4.
I will be waiting to do a reply.
Thanks for your time.
©Vicpiano
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