Compound Meter
The beat is divided into 3 parts
6
6
Let's begin by stating that 8 does not mean 6 beats per measure
and an eighth note gets one beat. 8 does mean 2 beats per
measure and a dotted quarter note gets one beat. In compound meter
the
beat is divisible by 3 (unlike simple meter where the beat is divisible
by 2). This implies that the note which receives one beat must
be a dotted note. Dotted notes can be broken down to 3 equal notes;
the undotted note can be divided into 2 equal parts (simple meter).
In the time signature of a compound meter, the lower number represents
the note value that is the division of the beat. 3 of these
divisions equal the beat (thus the dotted note). If a dotted quarter
note is the beat, the division would be an eighth note and the lower number
in this meter would be an eight. That is, an eight in the bottom
number of a time signature means that the note receiving one beat is the
dotted quarter. The upper number is determined by multiplying the
number of beats by three. e.g. three beats per measure would be shown
with a 9 in the upper number.
Duple
Triple
Quadruple
Examples of compound meter signatures:
6 6
6
9 9
9
12 12
12
8 4
16
8 4
16
8 4
16
As you can see, the upper numbers used in compund meters are 6, 9, and
12 representing 2, 3, and 4 beats per measure. Thus in compound meter
a 6 in the upper number signifies duple meter; a 9 as the upper number
is triple meter; and a 12 means the music is in quadruple meter.
When encountering a time signature with 6, 9, or 12 as the upper number,
we know that this is a compound meter and that it has 2, 3, or 4 beats
per measure, not 6, 9, or 12. Recognizing the compound meter, we
also know that the bottom number is not the beat unit, but is a division
of the beat. So a 4 as the bottom number means that a dotted half
note gets the beat, not a quarter note.
This page is designed to assist students enrolled in Music 221 - Music Theory. If you had difficulty in class with the contents of this lesson, this may help you to comprehend the material. If you missed the presentation in class, this may help to update the material for you.
If you still have questions, contact Dr. Bartolotta at wbartolo@odu.edu
William S. Bartolotta Music Department Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23529