MUSC 101 Music Fundamentals - Spring 2012

Unit 6 Compound Meter

[Overview] [Syllabus]

Simple Meter vs. Compound Meter

In simple meter the beat unit is a plain (not dotted) note value. All beat subdivisions are divided into two parts.

	Whole Note Beat Unit	Half Note Beat Unit	Quarter Note Beat Unit
Primary Division
First Subdivision
Second Subdivision
Third Subdivision

Compound Meter - Beat Units

In compound meter the beat unit is a dotted note. Any dotted note value can serve as the beat unit. The first beat subdivision is divided into three parts. All beat subdivisions after the first are divided into two parts.

	Dotted Whole Note Beat Unit	Dotted Half Note Beat Unit	Dotted Quarter Note Beat Unit
Primary Division
First Subdivision
Second Subdivision
Third Subdivision

Compound Meter - Time Signatures

RULE: The time signature represents compound meter if the upper number is greater than or equal to six, and is a multiple of three. The lower number is usually 8 although it can also be a 2, 4, or 16.

Performing Compound Meter

Compound time can be counted two ways:

1. The Preferred method

• The number of beats per measure (beat unit) is equal to the upper number of the time signature divided by three.
• The beat unit is equal to the duration of three note values of the lower number.

For example, in nine eight time the number of beats per measure (beat unit) is three (9 ÷ 3 = 3). The beat unit is equal to the duration of three eighth notes. Stated another way; in nine eight time there are three beats per measure and a dotted quarter note gets one beat.

2. For Slow Tempos Only

The upper number in the time signature represents the number of beats in one measure. The lower number represents the beat unit. This method should only be used in slow tempos. Method one is the preferred method.

Method	Time Signature	Beats per Measure	Beat Unit	Example
Preferred Method
Slow Tempos Only

Some contemporary scores indicate "six eight" time using the following time signature which clearly indicates there are two beats per measure and a dotted quarter note gets one beat.

Here are other examples of the preferred method of counting compound time.

Time Signature	Beats per Measure	Beat Unit	Example
	6 / 3 = 2
	9 / 3 = 3
	12 / 3 = 4
	15 / 3 = 5

Compound Duple Meter

Here's a four measure rhythm notated in different meter signatures. In all cases there are two beats per measure (6 ÷ 3) and the beat unit is equal to three notes represented by the lower number or the time signature. Although they all look different, they all sound the same. Notice how much easier it is to see the beat units in six eight time.

Note that beams reflect the beat unit.

Compound Triple Meter

Here's a four measure rhythm notated in different meter signatures. In all cases there are three beats per measure (9 ÷ 3) and the beat unit is equal to three notes represented by the lower number or the time signature. Although they all look different, they all sound the same. Notice how much easier it is to see the beat units in nine eight time.

Note that beams reflect the beat unit.

Compound Quadruple Meter

Here's a four measure rhythm notated in different meter signatures. In all cases there are four beats per measure (12 ÷ 3) and the beat unit is equal to three notes represented by the lower number or the time signature. Although they all look different, they all sound the same. Notice how much easier it is to see the beat units in twelve eight time.

Regular Divisions

When the beat is divided into regular divisions, the subdivisions are always the exact number of notes that occur naturally in that subdivision in simple and compound time.

Beethoven: Piano Sonata 13, Op. 27 No. 1

Irregular Divisions

When the beat is divided into irregular divisions, the subdivisions can be divided into any number of notes. For example five or seven notes to a beat would be irregular in both simple and compound time. Here's an example by Chopin where the subdivision is divided into eleven notes.

Chopin: Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1

Borrowed Divisions

The first level subdivision of simple time (two notes) and compound time (three notes) can be borrowed from each other. In simple time you'd play three notes in the space of the normal two. In compound time you'd play two notes in the space of the normal three. Its called a "borrowed" division.

Simple Time
Compound Time

Beaming and the Beat Unit

Beaming reflects the beat unit. Three four time is felt as three beats per measure with the first subdivision having two parts per beat. Six eight time is felt as two beats per measure with the first subdivision having three parts per beat.

Hemiola

The change from three four time to six eight time or vice versa is called hemiola. The accents shifts from two beats subdivided in threes in the first measure to three beats subdivided in twos in the second measure.

Syncopation

The deliberate displacement of notes away from the beat unit is termed syncopation. Emphasis is given to notes that occur just before or just after the beat unit. Syncopation is usually notated by tying two or more notes across a beat boundary or bar line. In this famous tune, listen to how the melody notes are close to but do not coincide with the steady beat in the bass clef. Syncopation is one of the principle features of Ragtime which literally means "ragged time."

Scott Joplin: The Entertainer Rag

[Overview] [Syllabus]

Revised by John Ellinger, Spring 2012.