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Simple and Compound Meter

The document discusses simple and compound meter in music. Simple meter refers to time signatures where each beat can be divided into two equal notes, like 2/4 or 3/4 time. Compound meter refers to time signatures where each beat consists of three equal notes, like 6/8 or 9/8 time. The top number of the time signature indicates the number of beats per measure (duple, triple, or quadruple) while the bottom number indicates the note value getting the beat.

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Jeremy Cabillo
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162 views

Simple and Compound Meter

The document discusses simple and compound meter in music. Simple meter refers to time signatures where each beat can be divided into two equal notes, like 2/4 or 3/4 time. Compound meter refers to time signatures where each beat consists of three equal notes, like 6/8 or 9/8 time. The top number of the time signature indicates the number of beats per measure (duple, triple, or quadruple) while the bottom number indicates the note value getting the beat.

Uploaded by

Jeremy Cabillo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

Simple and Compound Meter


printed from www.musictheory.net

Each time signature can be classified into a certain meter.


The terms duple, triple, and quadruple refer to the number of beats in a measure.
The term simple means that each of these beats can be broken into two notes.

For example, 2/4 time is classified as simple duple.


“Duple” refers to the two beats per measure.

“Simple” states that each of these beats can be divided into two notes.

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 1/8
7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

2/2 and 2/8 are also simple duple.

3/4 time is classified as simple triple.


“Triple” refers to the three beats per measure.

Again, “simple” states that each of these beats can be divided into two notes.

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 2/8
7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

3/2 and 3/8 are also simple triple.

4/4 time is classified as simple quadruple due to its four beats which can be divided into two notes.

4/2 and 4/8 are also simple quadruple.

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 3/8
7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

Notice that a time signature in simple meter will always have a 2, 3, or 4 for the top number.

While beats in simple meter are divided into two notes, beats in compound meter are divided into three.
To demonstrate this, we will examine 6/8 time.

The six eighth notes can either be grouped into two beats (compound duple) or three beats (simple triple).

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 4/8
7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

Since the simple triple pattern already belongs to 3/4 time, 6/8 is compound duple.

Notice that each beat in 6/8 is a dotted quarter note. In fact, all compound meters will have some dotted note as its beat.

Any time signature with a 6 on top is compound duple. 6/8 and 6/4 are the most commonly used.

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 5/8
7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

9/8 time is classified as compound triple.


There are three beats (three dotted quarter notes), thus making the meter triple.

Since each beat is made up of three notes, the meter is compound.

Any time signature with a 9 on top is compound triple. Although 9/8 is the most common; 9/2, 9/4, and 9/16 can also be used.

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 6/8
7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

Finally, 12/8 time is classified as compound quadruple.


There are four beats, thus making the meter quadruple.

Since each beat is made up of three notes, the meter is compound.

Any time signature with a 12 on top is compound quadruple. 12/8 and 12/16 are the most commonly used.

https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 7/8
7/27/22, 4:41 PM Simple and Compound Meter

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https://www.musictheory.net/lessons/15 8/8

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