Grade 3: Time Signatures
Can you identify which time signatures are suggested by the following?
6 quavers in a bar
9 quavers in a bar
12 quavers in a bar
When trying to keep time, it is inconvenient to count (or conduct) 6, 9 or 12 beats in a bar, so we divide these into groups of three quavers. Instead of counting 6, 9, or 12 beats, we count 2, 3, or 4 main beats respectively. Each main beat is a group of 3 quavers. We call these time signatures “compound” time signatures.
The following are common rhythms.
You can divide the semiquaver (16th note) to make a demisemiquaver (32nd note). A demi-semiquaver is worth 1/8 of a beat.
Semiquaver note
Semiquaver rest
Complete the extract below with the correct rests.
Group the notes and rests in the extract below correctly.
6 quavers in a bar
9 quavers in a bar
12 quavers in a bar
When trying to keep time, it is inconvenient to count (or conduct) 6, 9 or 12 beats in a bar, so we divide these into groups of three quavers. Instead of counting 6, 9, or 12 beats, we count 2, 3, or 4 main beats respectively. Each main beat is a group of 3 quavers. We call these time signatures “compound” time signatures.
The following are common rhythms.
You can divide the semiquaver (16th note) to make a demisemiquaver (32nd note). A demi-semiquaver is worth 1/8 of a beat.
Semiquaver note
Semiquaver rest
Complete the extract below with the correct rests.
Group the notes and rests in the extract below correctly.
