Time Signatures
Definition
Time signatures are musical notations that indicate the meter of a piece of music. They consist of two numbers, one on top of the other, with the top number representing the number of beats per measure and the bottom number indicating which note value receives one beat.
Analogy
Think of time signatures as musical road signs that tell you how fast to drive (beats per minute) and how many lanes there are in each section (beats per measure).
Related terms
Meter: The organization of beats into regular groups or patterns.
Beats Per Measure: The number of beats contained within each measure.
Tempo: The speed at which a piece is performed.
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