All Star music theory

Beat and meter

The beat is the musical pulse. A conductor establishes and controls it for an ensemble. Meter groups beats into a recurring pattern shown by the time signature.

• Simple time divides each beat into two equal parts.
• Compound time divides each beat into three equal parts.
• The top number shows beats per measure; the bottom number identifies the beat's note value.

Required time signatures

• 4/4 or common time — four quarter-note beats
• 2/2 or cut time — two half-note beats
• 2/4 — two quarter-note beats
• 3/4 — three quarter-note beats
• 6/8 — six eighth notes, commonly felt as two groups of three