METER

LESSON 3
Beats create rhythm and can
be divided into groups of two,
three, or four. The organized
grouping of beats into
repeating patterns is called
meter. It is the arrangement of
rhythm into patterns of strong
and weak beats.
1.Duple. A meter with
two beats in a measure.
Strong emphasis is felt
on the first beat
followed by a weak beat
on the second.
2.Triple. A meter with
three beats in a measure.
Strong emphasis is felt on
the first beat followed by
weak beats on the
second and third.
3.Quadruple. A meter with
four beats in a measure.
Strong emphasis is felt on the
first beat, followed by a weak
beat on the second, medium
strong emphasis on the third
beat, and weak beat on the
fourth.
 SIMPLE TIME SIGNATURES

Time Signatures show how beats are

grouped into measures. It consists of two
numbers arranged vertically like a fraction.
The upper number tells the number of beats in
a measure and the lower number tells which
note receives one beat. The simple time
signatures used music are the 2, 3, and 4.

4 4 4
 4
Another way of writing the4 time signature (also
called the common time signature) is this way.
2 – there are two beats in a measure
4 – a quarter note receives one beat
3 – there are three beats in a measure
4 – a quarter note receives one beat
4 – there are four beats in a measure
4 – a quarter note receives one beat